Five hoping to make some history Down Under
In the 16 previous visits to the 2.795-mile temporary street course, no driver has managed to win the event twice. Surfers Paradise remains the only continuing venue on the Champ Car Schedule without a repeat winner.
The drivers hoping to end that streak are Paul Tracy, Mario Dominguez, Bruno Junqueira, Sebastien Bourdais and defending champion Nelson Philippe.
Philippe, who with his victory last year became youngest driver to win a Champ Car race at 20 years, 2 months and 29 days, will be making his season debut when gets back behind the wheel for Conquest Racing.
Bourdais, who will leave at the end of this season for Formula One's Scuderia Toro Rosso team, needs only to finish 14th or better on Sunday, the penultimate race of the season, to wrap up an unprecedented fourth straight Champ Car World Series title.
The Frenchman, who has six victories in 12 races this season, has finished no worse than 13th. SI.com