GREEN FLAG FOR COUNTDOWN TO INDY
Published Thursday, 28 September, 2006 at 02:49 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Premier Peter Beattie today announced that next month’s Lexmark Indy 300 will be highlighted by a special tribute lap to Australian motorsport legend Peter Brock.
The lap will be completed by Brock’s son James in one of his Bathurst-winning Holdens owned by Queensland collector Peter Champion.
“Peter Brock was an Australian hero and it is only fitting that Queensland pay its respects to his achievements on and off the track,” Mr Beattie said.
“We enjoyed Peter’s involvement at the Lexmark Indy 300 several times and this is one way of saying ‘thank you’ for what he contributed.
“James will actually be competing on the support program at this year’s event in round seven of the Yokohama V8 Ute Series, but will break from his racing duties on the Saturday to complete the lap in his dad’s 1984 Bathurst-winning Holden Commodore.
“I think the lap will be a special addition to another bumper Indy carnival.”
James Brock said Indy had become one of the world’s great motorsport events and it would be quite an honour to do the lap as part of the tribute to his dad.
“Indy is really just one big celebration and I think that is how dad would have liked to have seen this tribute lap, part of the celebration of life,” James said.
“Queensland is such a passionate motorsport state and I guess this will give everyone up here the chance to pay their respects or simply give him a wave goodbye.”
Minister for Sport, Andrew Fraser said today’s announcement continued a month-long list of activities in the lead up to the Lexmark Indy 300.
“The Lexmark Indy 300 has developed a fantastic reputation as an entertainment spectacular on and off the track,” Mr Fraser said.
“Last year a record 316,459 patrons filed through the gates and we are expecting big crowds this year.
“The stars of the show will be the Champ Car and V8 Supercars but there will also be a huge program of entertainment including support races, stunt shows, precision driving challenges, driver parade laps, and the Sea FM Air Show.
“One of the crowd favourites will be Team Australia’s Will Power from Toowoomba, who along with Canadian teammate Alex Tagliani will sport the green and gold colours in 2006.
“Team Australia is the first-ever Australian-owned and sponsored team in the Indy series.
“In addition England’s Katherine Legge will become the first woman to drive a Champ Car on the streets of the Gold Coast when she lines up on the grid this year for PKV Racing.
“Everything points to this year’s Indy being one of the biggest motorsport events ever seen in Australia and I encourage everyone to come along and enjoy the action.”
Lexmark Indy 300 Chairman, Mr Terry Mackenroth, said that the requests from Queensland fans about the event honouring Peter Brock in some way had been overwhelming.
“Peter Brock was an amazing ambassador for motorsport and it was always going to be fitting that we honour him in some way,” Mr Mackenroth said.
“We have been inundated with calls about how we will be paying tribute to Peter and there is no doubt that the interest supports our decision to make this lap part of our Saturday program.
“This slow lap by James will give the crowd the chance to say their final good-byes to a tremendous Australian and we appreciate James accepting our invitation.”
The Lexmark Indy 300’s on-track action will kick off on Thursday October 19 and continue through until Sunday October 22.
Further information on the Lexmark Indy 300 is available at http://www.indy.com.au/
28 September 2006
Media contacts: Premier’s office 3224 4500
The lap will be completed by Brock’s son James in one of his Bathurst-winning Holdens owned by Queensland collector Peter Champion.
“Peter Brock was an Australian hero and it is only fitting that Queensland pay its respects to his achievements on and off the track,” Mr Beattie said.
“We enjoyed Peter’s involvement at the Lexmark Indy 300 several times and this is one way of saying ‘thank you’ for what he contributed.
“James will actually be competing on the support program at this year’s event in round seven of the Yokohama V8 Ute Series, but will break from his racing duties on the Saturday to complete the lap in his dad’s 1984 Bathurst-winning Holden Commodore.
“I think the lap will be a special addition to another bumper Indy carnival.”
James Brock said Indy had become one of the world’s great motorsport events and it would be quite an honour to do the lap as part of the tribute to his dad.
“Indy is really just one big celebration and I think that is how dad would have liked to have seen this tribute lap, part of the celebration of life,” James said.
“Queensland is such a passionate motorsport state and I guess this will give everyone up here the chance to pay their respects or simply give him a wave goodbye.”
Minister for Sport, Andrew Fraser said today’s announcement continued a month-long list of activities in the lead up to the Lexmark Indy 300.
“The Lexmark Indy 300 has developed a fantastic reputation as an entertainment spectacular on and off the track,” Mr Fraser said.
“Last year a record 316,459 patrons filed through the gates and we are expecting big crowds this year.
“The stars of the show will be the Champ Car and V8 Supercars but there will also be a huge program of entertainment including support races, stunt shows, precision driving challenges, driver parade laps, and the Sea FM Air Show.
“One of the crowd favourites will be Team Australia’s Will Power from Toowoomba, who along with Canadian teammate Alex Tagliani will sport the green and gold colours in 2006.
“Team Australia is the first-ever Australian-owned and sponsored team in the Indy series.
“In addition England’s Katherine Legge will become the first woman to drive a Champ Car on the streets of the Gold Coast when she lines up on the grid this year for PKV Racing.
“Everything points to this year’s Indy being one of the biggest motorsport events ever seen in Australia and I encourage everyone to come along and enjoy the action.”
Lexmark Indy 300 Chairman, Mr Terry Mackenroth, said that the requests from Queensland fans about the event honouring Peter Brock in some way had been overwhelming.
“Peter Brock was an amazing ambassador for motorsport and it was always going to be fitting that we honour him in some way,” Mr Mackenroth said.
“We have been inundated with calls about how we will be paying tribute to Peter and there is no doubt that the interest supports our decision to make this lap part of our Saturday program.
“This slow lap by James will give the crowd the chance to say their final good-byes to a tremendous Australian and we appreciate James accepting our invitation.”
The Lexmark Indy 300’s on-track action will kick off on Thursday October 19 and continue through until Sunday October 22.
Further information on the Lexmark Indy 300 is available at http://www.indy.com.au/
28 September 2006
Media contacts: Premier’s office 3224 4500