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Micheal Johns joins Team Australia at Long Beach |
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Saturday, 19 April 2008 |
Australian singing sensation Michael Johns, who was controversially voted off
American Idol last week, will be hoping to be in “Victory Lane” this weekend at
the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Johns will be in pit lane to cheer on Team Australia’s Will Power in his Aussie
Vineyards entry in the third round of the IndyCar Series on one of the world’s
most famous street circuits.
Johns has made headlines around the world
after being voted off American Idol, to the disbelief of the live audience,
which reacted to the announcement with loud and on-going boos.
“I am a
bit fan of sports in general, but to be in the pits for the race to cheer on
Will Power and Team Australia on Sunday is going to be a real buzz,” said Johns,
who will be joined by his wife, Stacey.
“The Long Beach Grand Prix has
such a terrific history and I was delighted when Team Australia bosses Craig
Gore and Kevin Kalkhoven extended an invitation to join them at the race, which
is just down the road from my Los Angeles base.
“I might not have been
able to pick up the winner’s trophy in Idol, but hopefully Will (Power) can get
the job done on Sunday.”
Johns, 29, was eliminated from American Idol
based on his rendition of Aerosmith’s Dream On.
“If there's a song to go
out on that's not a bad one,” said Johns, who moved to the United States in 1998
to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia.
Team
Australia creator and leading Australian businessman, Craig Gore, said it would
be a privilege to have Johns in his team’s pit bay for Sunday’s race.
“I
don’t think any of us ever want to see an Australian be hard done by in any
circumstance and, by all accounts, Michael, was given the wrong end of the
pineapple in American Idol last week,” said Gore.
“Kevin (Kalkhoven) and
I were delighted when Michael accepted our invitation and I hope we can continue
our relationship for years to come as he becomes a true star in the
entertainment business.
“There will be no shortage of green and gold for
him to wear and I hope we all get to chance to celebrate with a glass of Aussie
Vineyards Au wine on Sunday afternoon.”
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