Unbeknownst at the time, this would end up being the final contested season of Champ Car, as the following February, the series unified with the Indy Racing League (IRL), marking the end of the Champ Car World Series for good.

Bridgestone extended its deal as tire supplier in November 2006, but Ford withdrew entirely from the series in January 2007.

[2][3] Mazda took over as the new pace car and courtesy vehicle supplier, but elected not to badge the engines, with Cosworth having been sold to Kevin Kalkhoven by Ford.

ESPN announced a new, multiyear agreement that marked the return of the Champ Car World Series to the network in 2007.

The Panoz DP01 was built by sister company Élan Motorsport Technologies and was powered by a turbo-charged Cosworth engine.

Starting this season drivers no longer received a bonus point for leading a lap of the race.