Happy Birthday to ex Formula One racer and driving school founder Skip Barber (born 11/16/36),

Speed GT Racer Tommy Archer (born 11/16/54),

recently retired NASCAR “Iron Man” Terry Labonte (born 11/16/56),

open wheel journey man Roberto Guerrero (born 11/16/58)

and former Indy 500 driver Mike Groff (born 11/16/61)

According to a report on Autosport.com The Champ Car World Series has signed a deal with TV broadcasters ABC/ESPN for the 2007 season. It marks the return of the series to the network which last covered it in 2001, and the channels will cover the series exclusively from 2008.

“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.”

Eleven events will be broadcast on either ESPN, ESPN2, or ABC this year, starting with the Grand Prix of Houston, which is the second round of the series.

Happy Birthday to Sprint Car champion Joe Saldana (born 11/14/44),

and ex-Formula One driver Brett Lunger (born 11/14/45)

Speed TV reports that the promotion of Formula One Grand Prix racing as entertainment “entertainment has taken another step forward with the news that the sport’s commercial boss, Bernie Ecclestone, has cut a deal to develop F1-based Theme Parks worldwide.

The plan to build the first F1 theme park in Dubai was unveiled in October last year, with the property company saying it would spend $360m in the “Formula One World” project. The park is scheduled to open its doors to the public in 2009.”

According to reports on Autosport.com that 3-time Champ Car champion Sebastian Bourdais has given up on his long held ambitions to land a seat on Formula One, however he has confirmed that he will participate in next year’s Le Mans 24 Hour as a member of the new Peugeot team.

Meanwhile Bourdais winning move on the last lap of last weekend’s Champ Car finale in Mexico is coming in for some criticism.