Race Distance: 164.905 miles/265.388 km (59 laps on the 2.795-mile/4.498-km temporary street circuit).
Television Broadcast: Tape Delay - Sunday, Oct. 22 at 2:30 p.m. EDT on Speed Channel.
Potenza Race Tires Supplied: Bridgestone
delivered 668 dry-condition ("slicks") and 288 wet-condition
("rains") Potenza race tires for use this weekend.
All were produced at the Bridgestone Technical Center
in Akron, Ohio. Per Champ Car World Series regulations,
Bridgestone brought two dry-tire specifications and
a single wet-tire spec, broken down in the following
manner:
* Standard dry-condition tires: Each car receives
six sets of standard specification slicks (24 tires)
for the weekend, to use in the practice, qualifying
and race sessions. New for 2006, the primary Potenza
selected for Surfers falls into the mid-range of
the current Bridgestone street-course tire family.
This spec was available to Champ Car teams that participated
in the open test at Fontana earlier this year and
was also used at all street-course type team testing
at venues including Sebring and Firebird.
* Alternate dry-condition tires: Each car receives
two sets of alternate slicks (eight tires) to use
this weekend; they are easily identified by their
bright red sidewalls. At least one set of alternates
must be used for a stint in Sunday's race. The Bridgestone
alternate tire's construction is identical to the
standard slick, but the alternate possesses a tread
compound with better grip ("softer"), making it faster
but possibly not quite as durable. The alternate
Potenza for this weekend was previously used this
season as the primary tire on the streets of Houston,
Toronto, San Jose and Denver.
* Wet-condition tires ("rains"): Each car receives
up to four new sets of grooved-tread Potenza rain
tires (16 tires) per weekend on road and street courses,
as needed. In addition, each car may use two sets
of same-spec rain tires issued at a previous event.
Bridgestone officials opted for their "softer," or
higher-grip, rain-tire specification for this weekend.
Quote from Al Speyer, Executive Director, Bridgestone Motorsport: "Like everyone in the Champ Car World Series, we at Bridgestone are thrilled once again to make our annual trek to Australia for one of the greatest events in all of motorsports. The Bridgestone red alternate tires will be used this weekend for the first time on the tight and fast street circuit at Surfers, and we are looking forward to enhancing what is always an exciting show. The Australian fans are among the best in the world when it comes to their enthusiasm and support, and I know they will appreciate the added drama that the alternate tires create."