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IndyCar admits that it is in discussion with Derrick Walker about hiring the 68-year-old to take up a racing operations role within the series, although it says that no contracts have been signed.

It was reported earlier this week that Walker would leave his current post as team manager of Ed Carpenter Racing and the Falken Porsche GT squad after this weekend's American Le Mans Series race at Laguna Seca to take up his new role next week.

But according to the series, no deal has yet been finalised.

"We continue to have productive conversations [with Walker], but no contract is in place," an IndyCar spokesperson told AUTOSPORT.

Ed Carpenter Racing also denied that Walker is on the verge of leaving, and insisted that Walker remains part of the team - for now.

"That story was speculation," an ECR spokesperson told AUTOSPORT. "Derrick is still an employee of Ed Carpenter Racing. He will be with us during the Indy 500 month."

Walker's vast experience as a team manager and owner, coupled with his understanding of the challenges facing teams running on smaller budgets and the wide respect that he commands in the paddock, prompted former IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard to identify him early last year as the ideal candidate to work for the series as an interface between IndyCar and the teams.

Walker committed to ECR instead. However, Hulman & Co CEO Mark Miles has continued to pursue the Scot's services, and has spoken several times about the need to add more racing experience to the series' organisational side.