The Lexmark Indy 300 will be a ‘true blue’ international festival with Australian V8 Supercars, Australian teams, Australian drivers and Australian owners when it hits the streets of the Gold Coast over four days and four nights from October 18 to 21.

Australia’s biggest international motorsport event will POWER ON following today’s Ticket Launch held at Conrad Jupiters.

Queensland Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport Mr Andrew Fraser said the Lexmark Indy 300 was one of the world’s most enjoyable racing events.

“With more people attending the four-day event than the Grand Prix in Melbourne, it can now be regarded as the premier motor racing event in Australia,” said Mr Fraser.

“Indy is now in its 17th year and it’s with enormous pride that there is now an Australian feel to the event with Aussie owners, Aussie cars and Aussie drivers.

“Worldwide, this event promotes our state to a potential audience of 900 million in 164 countries and this year’s event will again showcase our magnificent coastline.

“Last year Will Power became the first Australian-born driver to start a Champ Car race from the front row and it would be great to see him enter the winner’s circle.

“With tickets on sale as of today, we’re bound to see another bumper crowd at what is truly a world-class event.”

Lexmark Indy 300 Chairman Terry Mackenroth unveiled this year’s event promotional imagery and Television Commercial.

“It is all systems go for this year’s Lexmark Indy 300 – tickets are now on sale,” said Mr Mackenroth.

“I’d urge people to get in now to secure the best corporate hospitality position and grandstand seats before they sell out.

“Fans can pre-purchase tickets from Ticketek to be part of what is shaping up as the most exciting Indy ever.”

Mr Mackenroth unveiled this year’s promotional imagery which presents a powerful graphic of the Gold Coast skyline with Conrad Jupiters as the centre piece, the coastline in the background and the Champ Car and V8 Supercar in the foreground.

“The television commercial is also sure to excite existing fans and attract new fans to the Gold Coast for those four big days and four big nights in October.

“Both the imagery and TVC comprise all the key elements of what makes the Lexmark Indy 300 such a wonderful event.”

The Champ Cars and V8 Supercars will headline the Lexmark Indy 300 with plenty of ‘fair dinkum’ Aussie flavour.

The V8 Supercars, arguably the world’s best touring car series, will pit some of Australia’s best drivers in the great Ford versus Holden Aussie showdown.

The Champ Car World Series has been boosted with the news that former F1 team owner Aussie Paul Stoddart will campaign Team Minardi this year, adding to fellow Aussie Craig Gore’s ownership of Team Australia which runs local favourite Will Power.

Today’s Ticket Launch provided a great taste of this Aussie flavour with Stoddart and Gore joined by V8 Supercars Australia Chairman Tony Cochrane and leading V8 Supercar drivers at Conrad Jupiters with special video messages from Power and Champ Car World Series owner Kevin Kalkhoven.

The Seven Network also confirmed details of the most comprehensive and extensive coverage yet undertaken of the Lexmark Indy 300 in Australia.

Seven will broadcast 12 hours of motorsport action from the Gold Coast on the weekend of October 20 and 21, with live action of the V8 Supercars and Champ Cars included in the broadcast.

The power will continue with a support cast featuring the all-Porsche Carrera Cup, Aussie Racing Cars and V8 Ute Series, plus a packed line-up of stunt shows, the Bartercard Miss Indy competition, burn out displays, drifting exhibitions and driver parade laps.

Pre-purchased ticket holders will be able to ‘Ride Free’ on all Surfside Buslines services on the Gold Coast and Queensland Rail Citytrain services from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

THREE V8 SUPERCAR RACES TO IGNITE GOLD COAST

Australia’s own V8 Supercar Championship Series has introduced a revitalised race format for 2007 which is set to excite event-goers at this year’s Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast from October 18 to 21.

The 4.47km street circuit will host a round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series with three 120km races and an entirely new qualifying format which sees the elimination of the Top Ten Shootout.

There will be a new qualifying session with all cars participating in the first 15 minutes followed by a five minute break, then the fastest 20 cars continue for the next 15 minutes followed by another five minute break, and then the top 10 remain for the final 15 minutes to decide pole position.

Race one will be held on Saturday afternoon with races two and three staged on Sunday.

V8 Supercars Australia Chairman Tony Cochrane said the new television package will also add a new element to the event this year.

“The Gold Coast Indy event is going from strength to strength and with a record amount of television coverage by our broadcast partner Seven this year it will be even better,” Mr Cochrane said.

“More than 800 million people around the world will get the Seven telecast from the Gold Coast, including live coverage around Australia and into New Zealand on Saturday and Sunday.”

Former Lexmark Indy 300 winner Russell Ingall from Caltex Racing is looking forward to plenty of hometown support in his quest to become the event’s first two-time champion.

“Sun, surf and speed – who could ask for more out of a motor racing event,” said Ingall.

“The Lexmark Indy 300 has become one of the real jewels of world motorsport and every V8 Supercar driver enjoys the four days of activity that surrounds this event every year.”

The Lexmark Indy 300 is the home event for many V8 Supercar teams including WPS Racing, Team Sirromet Wines, Jim Beam Racing, Stone Brothers Racing, Paul Cruickshank Racing and Team Vodafone.

CHAMP CAR DRAMA TO INCREASE WITH STANDING START

Get ready for plenty of thrills and spills on the opening lap of the Champ Car race at the Lexmark Indy 300 with a new ‘standing start’ adding to some exciting changes for the international open wheel category.

A round of the Champ Car World Series will be staged on the Gold Coast with Aussie fans set to witness some new initiatives, close and fast racing with a touch of Aussie flavour.

Champ Car has introduced a standing start for their race replacing the former rolling start which is set to create even more excitement and interest on the opening lap.

This year Champ Car has also introduced a new chassis called the Panoz DP01 which is lighter, more economical and has a new aerodynamics package for more competitive racing.

The design incorporates a number of changes to the existing car, including paddle shifters, additional ‘sharkfin’ elements as well as wing improvements, and a change of the seat angle for the drivers designed to improve driver safety.

All Champ Car races in 2007 will be timed races with the Lexmark Indy 300 scheduled for 1 Hour 45 Minutes. As the elapsed time of the race approaches, a signal indicating one lap to go will be displayed to the field, with the race ending upon the next time the leader crosses the start/finish line.

There will be even more Aussie interest in the Champ Car World Series this season with the addition of former F1 team owner Paul Stoddart to the Champ Car team owner’s list.

Stoddart will campaign Team Minardi in the Champ Car World Series and is sure to generate some spirited Aussie rivalry with fellow team owner Craig Gore of Team Australia.

Gore said he tipped big things from his second-year Aussie driver Will Power who scored his maiden pole position on the Gold Coast last year.

“I have been proud to have been able to contribute so much to the Lexmark Indy 300 through the Team Australia program over the past three years,” said Gore.

“Will Power taking pole in one of our cars last year was certainly one of the highlights of my life.

“All the indicators suggest that Will can be a major contender for this year’s championship and it would be fantastic if we could take the next step towards that goal by winning on the streets of Surfers Paradise.

“We are all about taking Aussie Vineyards and our other corporate partners to the world through our Champ Car, NASCAR and V8 Supercar programs, and obviously the Lexmark Indy 300 is a vital part of that.”

Stoddart said it was exciting for the Lexmark Indy 300 to have another Aussie factor involved in the event.

“The Lexmark Indy 300 is already well established as one of the best attended and most popular events on the Champ Car schedule,” said Stoddart.

“Craig and I both know how passionate the Aussie fans are about their motor racing, and it’s great they will have two teams with Australian connections to support this year.

I’m sure there will be a healthy rivalry between Team Minardi USA and Team Australia throughout the season, and I’m equally sure it will be particularly strong once we get to home turf at the Surfers Paradise round.

“Whatever the outcome though, we’ll do our best to ensure the fans have a great weekend.”

Stoddart said 2007 would be a great season for the Champ Car World Series.

“The arrival of a new chassis, new drivers and new races, including overseas rounds in China, the Netherlands and Belgium, should mean all teams are participating on a relatively level playing field this year.

“Combined with the adoption of standing starts at selected rounds, you have a surefire recipe for close, exciting and crowd-pleasing racing.

“There’s no doubt Champ Car is currently a good place to be, and I’m certain the 2007 edition of the Lexmark Indy 300 will once again prove to be a memorable event.”

Tickets are now on sale through Ticketek on phone 1300 303 103, via the new event website at www.indy.com.au or at any Ticketek agency.


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