SATO HEADS TO INDYCAR

Popular Japanese Formula One racer Takuma Sato is headed to the Indianapolis 500. Sato will contest the entire  2010 IZOD Indycar Series with the Indianapolis-based team KV Racing Technology, headed by champion driver Jimmy Vasser and Australian business man Kevin Kalkhoven. Sato's move to Indycar will be a huge boost for the struggling series in Japan where Sato remains the country's best known and most popular driver. “This is a very exciting time for me and all my supporters. I have really missed racing last year and can’t wait to get started in this new challenge with such a great team. To me, KV Racing is a team with massive potential and great team spirit." he said.

WHERE NOW FOR DANICA ?

WILL POWER ON WIND TUNNEL

MORE POWER FOR PENSKE

Australian driver Will Power will return to the drivers seat this year with Roger Penske announcing that Power will drive at five races in 2009. Power raced for Penske at the start of the year filling in for regular driver Helio Castroneves who was facing serious tax evasion charges. Castroneves returned to the team after he was acquitted of all charges leaving Power without a regular drive. Speaking before Sunday's NACAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway Penske said the team was looking at some road and street courses for Power over the final 11 races of the IndyCar season. Power finished sixth on the streets of St. Petersburg before a fine second at Long Beach, he returned to Indianapolis for the 500 where he finished fifth. In spite of missing several rounds Power remains eighth in this years Indycar Championship.

MORE POWER TO PENSKE: All Aussie line up possible ?

It could be an all Australian line up as Australian driver Will Power replaces Helio Castroneves at Team Penske. The Indianapolis Star has reported that Power will replace the Brazilian while the two-time Indianapolis 500 champion fights serious tax evasion charges.  Castroneves, who also won the US version of the popular television programme “Dancing With The Stars“, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and tax evasion involving about $US5.5 million ($A8.1 million) in income stashed in offshore accounts. Penske team president Tim Cindric told the “Star” that the team remained behind Castroneves and were hopeful that the situation would soon have a “positive outcome.” Power, who looked set to be without a drive following the withdrawal of Craig Gore's Team Australia sponsorship will take over testing of Penske's No.3 car.

WILL POWERS TO PARADISE POLE

Local hero Will Power has given his home state fans something to cheer about setting the fastest time in qualifying for Sunday's Gold Coast Indy 300. It'll be a trans-tasman showdown with series champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner New Zealand's Scott Dixon alongside Power on the front row.   In a qualifying session hit by showers, Power timed his run perfectly to beat the Kiwi star to the pole by almost a full second. “It was quite a difficult session, to be honest.” said Power. “ I went out there and half the track was wet and half the track was dry. It was a matter of getting through each round and in the last round it was all dry. It was back to what I knew quite well. On the last lap, I backed off out and made sure I got a good run in. I'm very happy for the team. We turned up with a pretty good car out of the box and the guys did great work. Hopefully we can get it done this weekend, because that's what we've been trying to do for the last three years.“

TWO CAR TEAM AUSTRALIA ATTACK

There will be a two-pronged attack from Team Australia on the Nikon Indy 300 with the green and gold livery of the Aussie Vineyards-backed team running on two cars at next weekend’s race around the streets of Surfers Paradise in Australia.  The cars of KV Racing Technology were unveiled in the pit lane of the Nikon Indy 300 circuit today, with Will Power on hand to unveil the cars.  Power, driver of the #8 Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia car, will be joined by team-mate Oriol Servia in the colours of Team Australia for the big event, held October 23-26.

EX WINNERS RETURN FOR INDY’S LAST HURRAH?

Indy Racing League teams headed for Australia's Gold Coast will be using the not for points Surfers Paradise street race to make a serious start on season 2009. Panther racing have announced their signing for 2009 Dan Wheldon is definitely on the way in his return to the team after racing this past season with Chip Ganassi. Wheldon's spot in the Ganassi team will be taken by the 1999 Gold coast winner Dario Franchitti.

HELIO WINS THE BATTLE, DIXON WINS THE WAR

New Zealand's Scott Dixon is the new Indy Racing Leauge Champion despite a thrilling, last to first drive by arch rival Helio Castroneves. In a closing round straight out of Hollywood, the popular Castroneves overcame a start at the back of the grid to just edge out Dixon in a thrilling finish that saw the cars locked together, side by side for the final few laps.

BRISCOE BACK TO PORSCHE

Australian IRL racer Ryan Briscoe will compete in the remaining three rounds of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in the LMP2 Penske Porsche RS Spyder. He will replace Sascha Maassen. Briscoe was scheduled to compete only in the two endurance rounds of the ALMS, but was told overnight that he was required to add the sprint ALMS rounds in Detroit this weekend and Laguna Seca on October 18 to his schedule.