Grid Lines....
21/4/2000 12:29 (Jason Whittaker) - Larry Perkins has announced through the week that he will run two VT Commodores in the season-ending endurance events. That, and other news, forms this week's Grid Lines.
**Larry Perkins has announced he will, for the first time, run two VT Commodores at the season-ending endurance races. Perkins will continue to partner Russell Ingall in the lead car, but will pair two young drivers together to pilot the team's second machine. A decision on who those drivers will be won't be made for a couple of months.
**Elsewhere, the endruo driver shopping spree has begun, with Paul Morris announcing last week he will partner former 500cc champ Kevin Schwantz at the Queensland 500, and BTCC independent ace Matt Neal at Bathurst. The team has also said they will take delivery of the former HRT Young Lion VT after the Canberra GMC 400 in June.
**Paul Romano's ailing VS Commodore will be back in action for Eastern Creek next week, after the team, headed by Former Gibson boss Allan Heaphy, finished the rebuild earlier this week. The Jones Ozemail outfit have said they will also have their AU back on-track for the Creek meeting, after the car was seriously damaged in that roll-over in Adelaide.
**Former V8 racer Jason Bright has started his Indy Lights campaign in outstanding fashion, finishing second behind New Zealander Scott Dixon at the opening round of the Series at Long Beach last weekend. The former Stone Brothers prodigy started third on the grid in his Dorricott Racing machine. The 27-year-old Victorian has already caught the eye of many in the Indy fraternity, and now seems likely to gain a start in the CART race on the Gold Coast later this year.
**The Bathurst City Council has announced plans to construct a 5-star hotel at the bottom of Conrod Straight as part of a multi-million dollar upgrade for the tradition-rich circuit. Both Bathurst Council Mayor Ian Macintosh and AVESCO Chairman Tony Cochrane, will lobby the Federal Government for the funds to begin the upgrade, which will include improved spectator and pit facilities. The V8 Supercars will return to their traditional October date next year.
**The Ten Network's coverage of last year's Bathurst FAI 1000 has surprised many (including most who watched it) to be nominated in the Most Outstanding Sports Coverage Category at this year's Logie Awards. Bill, Greg, Mark and Barry have been pitted against Ten's Melbourne Cup coverage, Nine's Pan Pac Swimming coverage and Seven's Rugby World Cup coverage in the Industry-voted category. The Logie Awards will be held in Melbourne on the 30th of April.
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