Australia non-points event preview

INDYCAR SERIES MAKES FIRST VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

Nikon Indy 300

Date / Time
Saturday, Oct. 25
10:30 p.m. (EDT)

Track
Streets of Surfers Paradise, Australia

Distance
60 laps / 167.7 miles

TV
ESPN Classic (Live);
ESPN2, 11 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 (Re-air)

Radio
IMS Radio Network / XM Satellite Radio (Live)

Streets of Surfers Paradise
14-turn, 2.795-mile temporary street course

Nikon Indy 300 Race Notes:

The Nikon Indy 300 will be the first IndyCar Series event conducted at Surfers Paradise, although the event has been held continuously since 1991. Past winners Dario Franchitti (1999), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2003) and Bruno Junqueira (2004) are entered in the event.

Twelve drivers entered in the Nikon Indy 300 have competed in previous races at Surfers Paradise. Eight of those drivers led laps (Dario Franchitti 62, Bruno Junqueira 55, Will Power 23, Ryan Hunter-Reay 15, Oriol Servia 6, Justin Wilson 4, Scott Dixon 3 and Alex Tagliani 1).

The Nikon Indy 300 will be the fourth race on a temporary course in 2008 and the seventh race on a road/street course. The three previous street events have featured three different winners, including first-time winners Graham Rahal (St. Petersburg) and Justin Wilson (Belle Isle). Scott Dixon won at Edmonton. Team Penske dominated qualifying on the road/street courses, with Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves each winning two poles. Briscoe is the only driver to advance to the Firestone Fast Six qualifying session at every event. Andretti Green Racing's Tony Kanaan and Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon also won poles on road/street courses.

Schedule (local time-Eastern time is 14 hours behind Australia):

Oct. 24
8-9:30 a.m. - IndyCar Series practice
11:20 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. - IndyCar Series practice

Oct. 25
9:50-10:55 a.m. - IndyCar Series practice (two groups)
1:10-2:50 p.m. - PEAK Motor Oil Pole Qualifying

Oct. 26
8:35-9:05 a.m. - IndyCar Series warm-up
11:35 a.m. - Nikon Indy 300 pre-race
12:40 p.m. - Nikon Indy 300 (60 laps/167.7 miles)

-credit: irl