IndyCar drivers enjoy Australia

IndyCar Series drivers arriving in Australia for the Nikon Indy 300 had a chance to relax Oct. 22 with a series of fun events away from the track.

Six drivers participated in the Miss Indy Beach Volleyball Challenge, while three others experienced the thrill of driving off-road buggies.

Jaime Camara, who regularly plays doubles beach volleyball in Miami as part of his training regimen, joined HVM Racing's E.J. Viso, Dale Coyne Racing's Bruno Junqueira and Mario Moraes, KV Racing Technology's Oriol Servia and Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing's Justin Wilson in the round-robin tournament. Miss Indy finalists complemented each team.

"I'm really enjoying being here,? Camara said. ?We should have more of these types of events because it really makes the drivers relax a little bit before getting on the track, and it's a great way for the fans to meet the drivers."

Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ed Carpenter and A.J. Foyt IV spent the morning at V8 Off-Road Rush taking turns behind the wheel of Team ORR's off-road racing dune buggies.

"It's fun," Carpenter said. "Any time you take a race car driver out and let them drive, they get pretty excited. I've never gone and tested another car like this before a race, like this, but it's a good experience."

It was a good start to the week-long build up to the first IndyCar Series race in Australia.

"The beautiful thing about the events they set up for the Surfers race is that they're all so different," Hunter-Reay said. "I've swam with sharks at Sea World, and I got to do a ride with the Roulettes Air Show and now this off-road buggy thing. Some of the best experiences I've had have been here."

Date of Article: Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:06 am