Stoddart has Cosworth engine deal

UPDATE Stoddart still retains the rights to the last Minardi design. Stoddart is not sure his submission will be accepted. If rejected by the FIA it is rumored he is eyeing Champ Car (or IndyCar if there is a merger). He and Max Mosley have butted heads on many occasions, so an FIA rejection would come as no surprise.

03/31/06 (GMMf1NET) Paul Stoddart says he has already put an engine deal in place for the 2008 world championship — with Cosworth.

In the Albert Park paddock for the first time since selling his team to Red Bull, the Australian this week revealed that he had lodged his entry in Geneva with the FIA as 'European Minardi F1 Team'.

''It's already in place,'' Stoddart said at the track when asked if he would now go on a hunt for an engine supplier.

''We would use the same car we had here last year (the PS04B), which could pretty quickly be brought up to 2006 specs.''

But Paul, seemingly patient to wait for later, admitted that the FIA was not likely to accept Minardi's entry in the very first round.