Start your engines and get ready for the inaugural Vegas Grand Prix, a three-day festival of racing, music and fun. Preparations are already underway and tickets are on sale for the event, which will take place in downtown Las Vegas from Friday, April 6, to Sunday, April 8.

The Vegas Grand Prix will kick off the 2007 Champ Car World Series. The race will feature open wheel cars that can reach speeds of up to 190 miles per hour. The cars will run on a specially constructed 2.4-mile course through downtown Las Vegas, accessing Ogden Avenue, Main Street, Casino Center Boulevard and Carson Avenue.

While admission to the event site is free, tickets are required to access the seating areas, view jumbotron video monitors of live race action and enjoy daytime concerts. A variety of tickets in a range of prices are available at (877) 795-RACE (7223).

Racing won’t be the only thing taking place that weekend. A number of events, including some that are free, will take place in the downtown area. The free “Friday Night Street Party” will take place on Friday, April 6, at the Fremont Street Experience, from 5 to 11 p.m. Events will include a driver’s autograph session, jugglers, motorcycle jumpers and performances by artists such as Army of Anyone, the Teddy Bears and country duo Big and Rich.

Volunteers are still needed for many of the activities and events.

Information regarding road closures, suggested alternative routes and pedestrian bridges will be posted in the coming weeks on the official Grand Prix Web site  and the city of Las Vegas Web site.