Champ Car Series to return to ABC/ESPN.

The Champ Car World Series and supporting Atlantic Championship will both air races on the ABC/ESPN Network next year, returning to the channel after five years in the comparative wilderness.

With ABC/ESPN also adding NASCAR to their motorsports package in 2007, Champ Car may find itself struggling to find its feet at first, as it is no longer the big boy in TV town but with ABC/ESPN set to become the exclusive broadcast partner for both the CCWS and Atlantic Series for 2008 and beyond, the future certainly looks brighter than before.

"Champ Car is moving into a bright new era in 2007 with four new venues and a newly-developed car for the series, and this new television agreement gives us even more reason to be optimistic about the future," said Champ Car President Steve Johnson. "This agreement allows us to bring the excitement of Champ Car racing to a greater number of fans while providing a stronger delivery platform for our sponsors and corporate partners."

ABC/ESPN partnered with the Champ Car World Series as far back as 1983 and was a mainstay of the series through the 2001 season.

"Having the Champ Car World Series back on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC is a tremendous addition," said John Wildhack, senior vice president of programming and acquisitions for ESPN. "This series produces close, competitive and exciting racing and adds more strength to the line-up of world-class motorsports and automotive programming we are offering our viewers, particularly on ESPN2 as it becomes the destination for motorsports fans."

As part of the deal, Champ Car and ABC/ESPN will also pursue strategies to exploit digital media applications as they pertain to the Champ Car World Series, including internet and wireless media opportunities.

"We have been very happy with the treatment that the series has gotten from our television partners, but the opportunity to reach a long-term agreement with one network was attractive to us," said series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven. "There are a great number of reasons to be excited about the future of Champ Car racing and this television package will make the series even more enticing to teams, drivers and sponsors."

The first of 11 Champ Car events to be broadcast on ABC/ESPN will come with the April 20th-22nd Grand Prix of Houston.




Champ car gets a shot in the Arm when it needs it. I'm glad Tony George failed in killing it totally. Now if some top teams would leave the IRL and return to Champ Car, maybe things could get back to the way they should be. Does anyone know if this means the Fox/Nascar deal is over? Maybe this Nascar on Speed 24/7 **** can get the heave-ho too. That would really be great............