The Champ Car World Series will air on ESPN beginning in 2007, returning to the network that used to broadcast its races.
ESPN announced the multi-year agreement with the open-wheel racing series on Thursday. At least 11 Champ Car races in 2007 and the full series in 2008 will be aired on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
ESPN's schedule will start with the April 22 race in Houston.
The first race ever aired live on ESPN was a Champ Car event in 1981. ESPN televised Champ Car races through the 2001 season.
``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,'' Champ Car president Steve Johnson said in a statement.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
