Queensland Premier says V8s not enough for Surfers

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh does not want the Gold Coast Indy to turn into a V8-only event if IndyCar bosses decide to abandon the annual carnival.

With the future of the Indy 300 still in doubt, Premier Bligh said the attraction of Indy was the combination of open-wheeler and hard-top racing.

“We certainly see the V8s as an on-going variable part of it, but we said from the outset that we think the success of this racing festival is the combination of open-wheelers and V8s,'' she said from the Surfers Paradise Nikon Indy track.

`That's what we will be fighting to achieve.''

Indy bosses and Queensland Sports Minister Judy Spence are to meet over the weekend in an effort to resolve a dispute over race dates for 2009.