The 2006 United States Grand Prix will take place on Sunday 2 July, race organizers have revealed.

Although the official 2006 Formula One World Championship calendar isn't due to be announced until next month, no doubt followed by the usual threats of cancellations and tirades at Sir Jackie Stewart, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has already confirmed its slot.

"We're proud to announce that the United States Grand Prix will help create a great weekend of motorsports on American soil," Joie Chitwood, president and chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, told the IMS official website. "To have the three major forms of motorsport racing in the U.S. on the same weekend is special."

The three forms of motorsport he was referring to are the Grand Prix, the IRL race at Kansas Speedway and the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at Daytona International Speedway on the Saturday night.

"Preparations for all three of our events begin more than a year in advance," revealed Chitwood. "Despite the events that took place during this year's USGP and the cloud that lingered over the race, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway staff never stopped working on 2006 and promoting Formula One racing in the U.S. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be prepared and is looking forward to the 2006 United States Grand Prix."

Of course, the "events that took place during this year's USGP" that Chitwood referred to was the debacle that saw 14 cars pull into the pitlane after the warm-up lap for the June 19 race, and the subsequent farce involving just 6 cars - one of the darkest days in Formula One's history.

Michelin, whose tyres were blamed as the root cause of the weekend's problems - depending on who you talk to - is already in the process of refunding race ticket money, and will also be giving away tickets to the 2006 event.