Possibly the strongest open-wheel field ever assembled for the streets
of Surfers Paradise has been confirmed for next week’s Nikon Indy 300,
October 23-26.
A total of 24 drivers - including three former Gold Coast race
winners, 10 2008 IndyCar Series race winners, five Indy 500 champions
and the famous racing families of Rahal, Andretti and Foyt – will hit
the track next weekend to form the biggest Surfers Paradise field since
2001.
The return of former drivers Michael Andretti and Jimmy Vasser to
Surfers Paradise as team owners will bring the total number of former
Gold Coast race winners on track to five.
Andretti and Rahal will watch on from pit lane as their sons, Marco
and Graham, both IndyCar Series race winners, go at it on one of the
world’s most demanding street courses.
AJ Foyt IV, the grandson of four-time Indy 500 winner, 1992 Gold
Coast race entrant and current IRL team owner, AJ Foyt, will also be
making his Queensland debut.
The five former Indy 500 winners include reigning winner and IndyCar Series champion - Brisbane-born Kiwi Scott Dixon.
The field will also include high-profile female driver Danica
Patrick, who became the first woman to win a major open-wheel event
when the IndyCar Series headed to Japan earlier this year.
On top of that there will be the return of some of the biggest team
names in open-wheel racing the likes of Penske, Ganassi, Andretti-Green
and Newman/Haas/Lanigan.
The combination of the IndyCar Series field compliments an
impressive field of 29 cars that will compete in Round 11 of the V8
Supercar championship on the same weekend.
Nikon Indy 300 General Manager Greg Hooton said he was thrilled at
the depth and quality of the field which he suggested could produce one
of the greatest races ever on the streets of Surfers Paradise.
“This is one of strongest ever fields we have assembled for the
Nikon Indy 300 – the quality of the names on this entry list is just
phenomenal,” said Hooton.
“The quality and depth of the IndyCar and V8 Supercar fields and
the variety of out support program means that we again have one of the
truly great festivals in world motorsports and that is something we can
all be tremendously proud of.
“Ticket sales for the event have been strong and I am sure the
confirmation of this quality field will be the icing on the cake for so
many race fans. A race win at the Gold Coast is a box so many of these
guys want to tick, including our own local contingent of Will Power,
Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon and I am sure their desire is going to
give us a fantastic race.”
FAST FACTS ON THE 2008 NIKON INDY 300 FIELD:
- A total of 24 drivers will line-up in next week’s race in one of the most spectacular fields ever assembled.
- The field will include three former Gold Coast race winners – Dario Franchitti, Bruno Junqueira and Ryan Hunter-Reay
- Half of the 24 have previously raced on the Gold Coast with Helio
Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe, Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Will Power, Graham
Rahal, Oriol Servia, Alex Tagliani and Justin Wilson combining with
Franchitti, Junqueira and Hunter-Reay having made 49 starts between
them.
- Of those 12 previous starters, eight have led laps (Franchitti
62, Junqueira 55, Power 23, Hunter-Reay 15, Servia 6, Wilson 4, Dixon 3
and Tagliani 1)
- The field includes 10 2008 IndyCar Series race winners Scott
Dixon, Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick, Will Power, Ryan Briscoe, Dan
Wheldon, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan, Graham Rahal and Justin Wilson
- The field also includes five former Indy 500 winners including
Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, Helio Castroneves, Dan Wheldon and Buddy
Rice.
With 96 hours of non-stop excitement over October 23-26 as the Gold
Coast comes alive to the sound of the IndyCar Series Cars burning up
the track and Australia’s own V8 Supercars scorching around one of the
most famous beach-side cities in the world, the event is the hottest
ticket in town.
Tickets are now on sale for the Nikon Indy 300 with ticket options
to suit everyone's needs. Four day Grandstand passes are available for
those who prefer to watch the racing from the comfort of their own
reserved seat or for those who prefer to wander around and soak up the
atmosphere then a four day, weekend or single day General Admission
pass might be more their style. For more information on ticket options
go to indy.com.au. For information on Corporate Hospitality packages
please call the Nikon Indy 300 Sales Team on (07) 5588 6800.
|
News 
