It's full speed ahead for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Last Friday was seen as a great day for open-wheel racing in America when it was announced that Champ Car World Series and Indy Racing League had merged.

Wednesday was an even better day for Long Beach when it was confirmed at an Indianapolis news conference formally announcing the merger that the city will play host to Champ Car's last hurrah the weekend of April 18-20. A complete Champ Car field is expected for the main event.

Jim Michaelian, CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach LLC, told the Press-Telegram last Friday that he had it on good authority that Long Beach would be the swan song for Champ Car. Now, there is no doubt.

"What we're delighted about is one, that what we presumed was going to happen has now become fact," Michaelian said. "And two, that we are going to put on a celebration of 25 years of Champ Car racing in Long Beach with the Champ Car finale here in April.

"We're going to celebrate the history, we're going to celebrate the drivers, the cars, as well as host the last Champ Car race ever."

Michaelian said that the plan is to bring back many of the cars and drivers that have raced Champ Cars on the streets of Long Beach in the past to run ceremonial laps. Among other things, race car displays and autograph sessions will be on tap.

"We'll be honoring our past and, at the same time, setting the stage for showcasing

There was no time to add Long Beach to the IRL schedule this year. That's why Champ Car is holding its final race at Long Beach while the IRL will be in Japan for an April 19 race.

Tony George, IRL founder, said there were challenges in running the race in Long Beach the same weekend as IRL competes at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan.

"So not to disadvantage anyone, points and prize money will be awarded for both those events according to the IRL structure, but it will be a Champ Car race," he said.

Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe co-owned Champ Car, which will cease to exist. Champ Car will blend completely into the IRL after the Grand Prix of Long Beach.

"I'm ... looking forward to being able to bring the (unified IRL) series to Long Beach (in 2009)," said Kalkhoven, who also co-owns the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach LLC.

"The (Indianapolis) 500 with all its stature and Long Beach with its 34 years of history now (are) going to be two anchor points of what will be an incredibly successful and interesting series."

It was not made clear exactly how many Champ Car teams will be joining IRL. But the availability of IRL's Dallara chassis will figure in that equation.

According to The Associated Press, eight to 12 cars with former Champ Car drivers will be added to the 16-car IRL lineup for its March 29 opener in Homestead, Fla. More could be added as more Dallaras become available.

Whereas Champ Car drivers will participate in that opener, no original IRL drivers are expected at Long Beach.

"Basically, none of them would even be familiar with this car," Michaelian said.

Not that those with Champ Car roots aren't going to be at a disadvantage this season while trying to compete for an IRL championship.

"For me, coming from Champ Car, it's a little bit tough on us, having to get (IRL) cars a month before the first race," said Will Power, fourth in Champ Car points for Team Australia in 2007. "But, in the long run it's much better for a driver in their career, for sure, because there's a lot more potential."

Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing is one of the teams set to move to the new IRL. Its drivers are Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal.

"We are certainly not in the same situation, competition-wise, starting the IndyCar Series season as we would have been in Champ Car, but Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing are proven winners and we will all work hard to be as competitive as possible this season," Wilson said.

Champ Car was formally known as CART before CART filed for bankruptcy after the 2003 season. George was on CART's board of directors until he left and started the IRL in 1996. That split has been a dark cloud over open-wheel racing in America.

There are still some details to be worked out with the merger. Two other former Champ Car races - Edmonton and Surfers Paradise in Australia - are on tap to be added to this year's IRL schedule. As of yet, there are no confirmed dates.

It's understandable, Kalkhoven said, that there is still much to do.

"It's been a long and hard road to be able to get here, but we are here," said Kalkhoven, who said he and George have been discussing an alliance for four years. "I think that the winners today are the fans, the teams, the drivers, and indeed the potential we have to be able to grow the sport over the next few years.

"I've said many times that in itself, unification isn't some sort of magic bullet to be able to get us forward. It's going to take an awful lot of hard work."

The Associated Press contributed to this report