TEAM KIWI IS BACK!

Topics:  Armor All Gold Coast 600, Shane van Gisbergen, Scott Dixon

Stone Brothers Racing
July 22, 2011

SBR’s hard-charger Shane van Gisbergen will team up fellow countryman and IndyCar star Scott Dixon for this year’s Armor All Gold Coast 600 in October.

The Target Chip Ganassi Racing star will form an all-Kiwi combination with SP Tools Racing Falcon pilot Shane van Gisbergen and team co-owners Ross and Jim Stone.

The two-time IndyCar Series champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner drove last year for Jack Daniel’s Racing on the Gold Coast, however has elected to jump camps for the 2011 event.

“Surfers Paradise has always been a special place for me and anyone else that has raced there,” said Dixon.

“It is almost like a home race for me having been born in Brisbane and raised in New Zealand.

“It is going to be like the Kiwi Super team with me driving with Shane in a car prepared by the Stone Brothers.

“Ross and Jimmy are obviously racing heroes in NZ and it is going to be pretty cool to drive for them.

“I enjoyed my first outing in a V8 Supercar with the Kelly boys last year and being part of an all-Kiwi assault will add even a bit more spice.

“My wife Emma is due to have our second baby that week and it took a while for me to make up my mind to come, but she was insistent that I come back and race with Ross and Jimmy.

“We have a back up plan and another driver on stand-by if we have any issues and Ross and Jimmy are prepared if we have any drama.

“We have our final IndyCar Series event in Las Vegas the previous weekend and then our gala on the following night – so it is going to be a rush for me and the rest of the IndyCar boys making the trip.

“I have to thank Chip Ganassi for again giving me the opportunity to come back Down Under to do Armor All Gold Coast 600 which I think is a fantastic concept and which I think has a tremendous future.”

Van Gisbergen was also excited at the announcement of Dixon joining the Team.

“Team Kiwi is back!” van Gisbergen cheered.

“Obviously I followed Scott’s career while growing up so to be finally driving with him is a real buzz.

“Scott was quick here last year and is coming off a pretty good run in his series at home so he’ll be in a good frame of mind.

“It’s pretty good going into this event knowing I’m teamed up with someone who can really handle a V8 Supercar because as you know this place can be really unforgiving.

“Our car was strong here last year and with the progress we’ve made this year I’m confident we’ll again be running up the front,” van Gisbergen said.