---

CART: Jason Bright lands Champ Car ride for Honda Indy 300

16 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

SUNNYVALE, Calif.- Dorricott Racing's Jason Bright, of Gold Coast, Australia, has captured an opportunity to grab hold of the proverbial brass ring with an announcement that he has secured a ride for this year's Honda Indy 300 in Queensland, Australia.

The Chairman of Honda Indy 300, John Cowley, officially confirmed that Bright had secured a drive at this year's CART FedEx Championship Series event, October 12-15, in Bright's home region of Gold Coast. Bright will drive for CART FedEx Series veteran Hogan Racing with the possibility of running one or two more CART FedEx Championship Series races in North America.

"Given Jason is a Queenslander, and that he succeeded in the V8 Supercars including a win at the 1998 FAI 1000 at Bathurst, I expect interest in his competing at the next level against the best CHAMP Car drivers in the world will generate unprecedented interest in this year's race," said Cowley. "This will translate into an increased focus on this great event, increased ticket sales, and a large viewing audience across the country."

Bright and Hogan Racing will be primarily backed by the Queensland government which is contributing $300,000 in sponsorship as part of a campaign to promote its new corporate logo. The government's announcement was made by Peter Beattie, Premier of Queensland.

"I commend the State government on its foresight in supporting Jason Bright, and for choosing his race car as a vehicle to promote its new corporate image both within Australia and to the world," said Cowley. "Not only is Jason an exciting racing talent, he is a great ambassador for the State, and someone who will help sell the many tourist, business and economic strengths of Queensland."

Hogan Racing took an interest in the 27 year-old Bright last year when the CART FedEx Championship made its ninth annual visit to Queensland. Ongoing talks with Bright, who is in his first year of Indy Lights competition with defending Dayton Indy Lights champion Dorricott Racing, kindled the concept. Bright's success and popularity in Australia provided the foundation needed to secure sufficient sponsorship. Swift Engineering will unite with Hogan on the chassis while the selection of an engine package is under evaluation.

"We've been engaged in discussions with Jason and Dorricott Racing for a while," said Hogan Racing vice-president Larry Albus. "We all agreed in principle of which direction to take but the support offered by the Queensland government made it tangible. We will run out of the Swift Engineering facility."

Albus also confirmed that Hogan Racing is hoping to compete in a couple of CART FedEx races before Queensland if adequate sponsorship can be secured.

Bright has quickly established himself as a leading contender in the Dayton Indy Lights Championship as evidenced by his second place finish in the Indy Lights season opener at Long Beach, April 16. However, Bright is no stranger to open-wheel racing in North America or Australia.

Bright won the 1996 U.S. Formula Ford 2000 Pro Championship and Holden Australian Drivers' Championship for Formula Holden. Two victories in the U.S. FF2000 series at St. Petersburg, Fla., and Mosport Park, Ont., Canada, etched his name in North American record books. He closed the '96 season with a second place finish in the U.S. National Formula Ford Championship, and was named Formula Ford 2000 and USAC Oval Crown Rookie-of-the-Year. Bright is also a past winner of the Formula Ford support races to the Australian IndyCar Grand Prix at Surfers Paradise and Formula One Australian Grand Prix at Adelaide.

"It's a dream come true," said Bright. "It will be great to finally get into a CHAMP car after years of working my way through the driver ranks. It was tough and very competitive to land a ride with Dorricott Racing after years of trying to get a foothold in Indy Lights. It's made even more wonderful by being able to have a chance to race in my home country of Australia with an experienced FedEx Championship Series team like Hogan Racing, and in front of family, friends, and local sponsors."

Dorricott Racing is a year-round professional motorsports organization with its race shop located in Bakersfield, Calif., and its corporate office based in Sunnyvale, Calif. Race results, team, and sponsor information are available on Dorricott Racing's official web site, http://www.dorricottracing.com.

Bright and Dorricott Racing will next be racing in round two of the 12-race Dayton Indy Lights Championship at the Milwaukee Mile and the Miller Lite 225, Sunday, June 4.

Text provided by James R. Hyneman

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.