Stoddart for ChampCar

Stoddart ran Minardi in Formula One from 2001-2005 before selling the squad Red Bull, who re-branded it as Scuderia Toro Rosso.

But, after returning to his native Australia to run his airline OzJet, he has decided it is time for a return to racing, and intends to resurrect the Minardi name stateside by the middle of next week.

"It's almost a certainty that Minardi will be in Champ Car in 2007," Stoddart said.

"The final details of the plan will be communicated in the next few days."

Stoddart retained the commercial rights to use the Minardi name when he sold up, and will either buy an existing team or start a new one from scratch.