Former Minardi chief Paul Stoddart is close to sealing his return to top open-wheeler racing.
The Australian businessman, who sold his Faenza based squad to Red Bull last year, has been contemplating a switch to America’s formula one-style Champ Cars.
He ‘continued negotiations’ with series organisers at the recent Surfer’s Paradise race, The Australian newspaper said. Stoddart, 51, said the likelihood of a team for 2007 is ’50-50′.
“The devil is in the detail and there are a lot of detailed discussions to be had,” he added.
Series boss Kevin Kalkhoven said Champ Car would welcome Stoddart.
He insisted: “I don’t know what Paul’s final decision will be but we certainly want to have him around.”
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
