Like so many others frustrated with the lack of opportunity in Formula One, Darren Manning came to the United States this year to make a name for himself in Championship Auto Racing Teams.

It worked because Manning turned in several strong performances driving a two-year-old Champ Car for Derrick Walker and now the personable 28-year-old native of North Yorkshire, England, is poised to join one of the premier teams in American open-wheel racing.

ESPN.com has learned from sources close to the negotiations that Manning will be driving for Chip Ganassi in the Indy Racing League for 2004.

Manning and Ganassi confirmed the report on Wednesday.

"Team Target has proven that they are one of the premier organizations in all of motorsports," Manning said. "Their legacy of winning championships is amazing, and it's an honor to drive for them. What they did this year proves, even more, that they are the team to beat and I'm truly excited to be a part of their team.

"I've fared pretty well on ovals so far in my career. I'm confident that I'll be successful next year in the IRL IndyCar Series."

Manning had said that Ganassi's ride wasn't his only alternative.

"To be honest I've received a lot of offers from both sides but nothing is salted yet," Manning said on Tuesday.

"It's very strange to be in this position. I've spent all these years trying to get to this level and never had any offers and now it's twice as hard to make a decision."

Ganassi's team, which captured four consecutive CART championships from 1996-1999, won this year's IRL title with Scott Dixon but lost Tony Renna last month in a fatal accident while testing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"Darren would be an excellent driver for anyone who had the chance to sign him up," managing director at Target/Ganassi Racing said Mike Hull said on Tuesday when asked if his team had signed the Brit. "But we're currently talking with three drivers."

	Darren Manning finished ninth in points this season in the CART series.

"Darren has shown over the years that he is an extremely talented driver," said Ganassi. "We're excited to have him on board with us for the 2004 season. He's a guy that really fits into this organization. I have no doubt that he'll adapt quickly to these cars and compete for the championship."

Walker, who watched the rookie score one podium and finish ninth in the point standings this season despite driving with no backup car, obviously has mixed feelings.

"I would have loved to have kept him because the kid's a helluva racer and such a pleasure to deal with," said Walker, who did not exercise his option on Manning last Friday.

"I've never had a driver pass so many cars with less damage and he basically drove the whole year with only one car. He's been banging around the world, living out of suitcases, and finally some people are interested in him.

"He never mentioned the IRL until recently but obviously some of those teams can offer him more than we can at this moment."

Manning, who made a dazzling debut on the oval at Rockingham, England, in 2002 when he led 18 laps and finished ninth for Dale Coyne, is a road racer at heart but understands the clout of Toyota and Honda in the all-oval IRL. Ganassi is one of Toyota's factory efforts.

"I totally enjoyed my team and racing in CART this year. It was fantastic," said the former F1 test driver for BAR/Honda whose ride with Walker was financed by CART. "But I have to look at my longterm future and maybe being with a big team or manufacturer.

"The IRL has the appeal of manufacturers, the Indy 500 and lots of television. That's a big appeal for a driver and I think I have to consider the IRL. CART has no downsides, other than the possibility that I might not be with a manufacturer-based team."

In the latest edition of Autosport, Manning confessed that the IRL gave him cause for concern. "It's the only time in my life when I've been considering a drive that the element of danger has entered my thoughts.

"That's a big consideration and it never crossed my mind until I considered the IRL. Fans often asked if I get scared and my stock answer is that if you're not scared, you're going too slow. But the danger factor in the IRL is a big one to be considered."

Slip of the tongue?
During an appearance on David Letterman's show Monday evening, actress Ashley Judd was asked about husband Dario Franchitti and what series he was competing in.

"Champ Cars," she replied, before quickly recovering.

"I'm sorry, he's actually in the IRL, at the moment."

Of course the speculation is that Franchitti is heading back to CART for 2004 because he still hasn't signed with Michael Andretti's IRL team.

IRL tests at Homestead
IRL champion Scott Dixon and Tomas Scheckter tested Indy cars Monday at Homestead-Miami Speedway's newly-reshaped track and, according to witnesses, hit speeds approaching 220 mph on the 1.5-mile oval.

The new configuration features increased banking in the turns, from six degrees to 20, and thus the increase in speed. Tony Kanaan won the IRL pole position in 2003 at 203.5 mph.

For the third time in its history the track south of Miami was torn up to try and make NASCAR races more competitive.

The IRL opens its 2004 season at Homestead.

Robin Miller covers open wheel racing for ESPN and ESPN.com.