Forsythe confirms three-car assault.

Forsythe Racing has confirmed that it will run three cars in this year's Champ Car World Series, despite speculation that Patrick Carpentier had been cut loose for 2004.

The team has confirmed that defending champion Paul Tracy will drive the # 1 Indeck-backed car, with new signing Rodolfo Lavin in the #3 Corona entry and Carpentier at the wheel of the #32 machine also backed by Indeck, one of team owner Gerald Forsythe's companies.

"Now that the final details of running three cars has been worked out, I'm really looking forward to testing next week and the first race," a relieved Carpentier told the team's website forsythe-racing.com.

After all the uncertainty surrounding the future of the CCWS, Tracy is also looking forward to getting back into his race car after hardly having stepped into the cockpit since taking the title.

"Its been a long winter," he admitted, "[But] I'm fit and ready to go racing and determined to defend my championship. Champ Car is the greatest series and I look forward to racing in front of full grandstands at Long Beach on 18 April."

Between now and the start of the season in California, team and drivers will undertake a busy testing schedule, visiting Sebring, Homestead and Fontana to shake down the race cars and to prepare for the opening race. Having driven for Walker Racing in 2003, Lavin had his seat fitting with Forsythe last week, and is eagerly anticipating his first run with the champion team.

"I'm so impressed with the race shop and the team's engineers and crew guys," the Mexican enthused, "This is a great opportunity for me to work with the best team in the series - and with such experienced drivers as Paul Tracy and Patrick Carpentier.

I look forward to the first race in Long Beach and doing my best for the team and my sponsor."