Formula One is to return to the United States in 2000 after a nine-year absence with a grand prix to be held on a new track at the Indianapolis Speedway.

A joint announcement confirming a long-term contract starting in two years is expected today from the circuit's owner Tony George and Bernie Ecclestone, the vice-president of motor racing's governing body, the FIA.

The deal took months of negotiation and Indianapolis's prestige proved the key factor after San Francisco had been tipped originally as the favourite venue for the first US Grand Prix since the Phoenix event in 1991.

It is likely the new event will raise the profile of the Indy 500, which has struggled to maintain its image in recent years since the top Champcar teams established a breakaway series at the start of 1996.

The grand prix will be run largely on a new road circuit built outside the 2.5-mile banked speedway. It will include only a section of the oval track but spectators will benefit from more than 200,000 grandstand seats which already line the existing facility.

On Monday the FIA published its official list of entrants for the 1999 Formula One world championship, which was headed by the McLarens of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. There are only three driver vacancies to be filled in the 22-car field, both Minardi seats and the second Arrows alongside Mika Salo.