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Indy
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Team
Australia hope it's third time lucky at Indy - 20th
October 2006
(The
Sydney Morning Herald)
CRAIG
Gore believes the Gold Coast Indy is Team Australia's
chance to claim motor sport glory on its home turf
- if his drivers can keep out of each other's way.
Last
year, Canadian Alex Tagliani was making a charge towards
a podium result at Surfers Paradise before teammate
Will Power clipped him at turn four and he finished
fourth.
It
was Power's Champ Car debut, and despite his one costly
mistake, his performance was enough to convince team
owner Gore that the Queenslander had what it took
to become a force in the open-wheeler series.
Power
has since repaid the faith with an outstanding debut
season to be ranked seventh in the title points and
leading rookie of the year honours - narrowly ahead
of cocky Englishman Dan Clarke.
While
Power and Tagliani have been reasonably consistent
this season, the one thing missing from the Team Australia
resume is a victory.
But
Gore believes with Power's full season of experience
and Tagliani more determined than ever, this weekend's
Champ Car race could turn into a big party for the
green and gold team.
"I'm
very, very confident. I think we can put it on the
podium," Gore said yesterday.
"Last
year, Will spun at turn four; I actually wanted to
get up and say to Will this morning [at the Indy breakfast
function], 'Will you please promise me you won't take
Tags out at turn four?'
"[Tagliani]
drove a great race last year so it was an empty feeling.
I'm not going to have a go at [Power]; this is motor
racing so you have got to get used to the ups and
downs of it.
"If
you look at the tracks we've gone to this year, street
tracks have not been our best but there's been a lot
of times where we've got really close and blown it."
This
is the third time Team Australia has raced at Indy.
In 2004 they made a one-off debut before joining the
Champ Car series full-time last year.
The
Champ Cars have their first practice session today
before qualifying tomorrow.
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