Clarke set for new deal

Clarke, 23, finished 12th in his rookie season with the team, having clinched a drive with the squad only two weeks before the season started.

And, after gaining in momentum in the second half of the season - which included a third place in Denver and a pole position at the demanding Road America track - Clarke is confident of sealing a deal for 2007.

Clarke told eurosport.com: "I don't really get involved in the negotiations, my manager takes care of that, but he is talking to the team and things are going well.

"I want to stay with CTE next season definitely and [team boss] Keith [Wiggins] wants me to stay too. He likes me and I like the team, but nothing is set just yet.

"During the season I've got on better and better with the car and the engineers, and I hope we can build on it next season. The only thing that needs finalising is the budget, but it's coming along."

Clarke has been delighted with the progress the team have made this season since their winter re-structuring.

And, short of Newman/Haas Racing - the champion team for the last three years - making him an offer for 2007, he does not want to leave Wiggins' team.

He added: "If Newman/Haas come up to you and offer you [champion Sebastien] Bourdais' drive and a salary too, then you'd be a fool to turn it down. It's the drive that everyone wants.

"But otherwise, there's no better team to be with than CTE and I hope we can stay together next year."

Should Clarke re-sign, he will have his first test of the new Panoz-Ford that all teams will use next season in January.