Lewis to miss Vegas race

Walker Racing enters the Cooper Tires Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda season this weekend in Las Vegas one man short of their 2007 lineup. Ryan Lewis will not make the season opener.

Lewis embarks on his second year in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship, but his first with Walker Racing. The Brit plans to compete with the team for the entire 2007 season, but will miss the first event due to a misunderstanding with his visa, delaying his start for the championship.

“Because of a misunderstanding and subsequent delay of granting of his visa, Ryan will not be in Las Vegas. Further complicating matters with the Easter weekend holiday in the UK, meant that he was unable to complete his application in time to compete in the Las Vegas race. Ryan will be back with us in Long Beach and we look forward to having him join us," stated Walker Racing owner, Derrick Walker.

The 22 year-old brings with him a strong racing pedigree as he was crowned the British F3 Scholarship champion and earned three podiums in his rookie Atlantic season after jumping on board in the fourth round in 2006. Walker Racing will only run one car, Swiss rookie Simona De Silvestro, for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.