From Cart-Racing.com:
http://www.cart-racing.com/news/2003/item_3074.html
Toyota Atlantic driver Michael Valiante is to make his Champ Car debut this coming weekend at Fontana driving the #25 Walker Racing entry engineered by Shawn Faust. The Canadian finished third in Toyota Atlantic this year with Lynx Racing and is hoping that a sufficient budget can be found for a full season next year with Walker Racing.
However, there is still some serious doubt as to whether the season finale at Fontana will even take place as 4000 plus fire fighters battle ongoing fires across Southern California. San Bernardino County is especially affected and prompted Fontana Speedway President Bill Miller to look at his options as the weekend draws closer. “"We continue to monitor the fire situation in San Bernardino County and throughout Southern California,” Miller stated today.
The BBC report that 15 people have died already in the fires and that President George Bush has declared the area a disaster area. Six major fires are burning in California from the border with Mexico to North of Los Angeles. Major highways have been blocked and many airports are closed. A decision regarding the Fontana race is expected in the next 24 hours.