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©2000 SpeedCenter Publishing Indianapolis, Ind. (September 22, 2000) - As the Honda Indy 300 gears up to celebrate its tenth anniversary on the Gold Coast, Australia Jason Bright, a resident of the city, is set to make his Champ Car debut piloting Della Penna Motorsports' #10 DIRECTV machine. Bright will test with Della Penna Motorsports on September 25 and 26 at Firebird International Raceway in preparation for the event. Della Penna Motorsports' current driver, American Memo Gidley, will not make the trip to Australia, but will return with the team for the season finale Marlboro 500 at California Speedway on Sunday, October 29, 2000. Team owner John Della Penna partnered with former CART team owner Carl Hogan to secure a ride for the 27-year-old talent. "Carl approached me about running a second car for Jason back in May at Nazareth. We had hoped to run him in a few more races, but I'm pleased that this opportunity has come together for him. He's shown his talent this season in Indy Lights and I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish in our Champ Car." "Initially we had planned to run Jason in a second car, but when we lost a car in Memo's (Sunday morning warm-up) crash in St. Louis, it didn't leave me any choice but to run one car with Jason. Memo is still going to run Houston and Fontana for the team, and has been very gracious in helping us with Jason's program. Memo and I are focused on finishing the 2000 season on positive note and putting together a strong program for next season." Long-time CART team owner Carl Hogan has played an instrumental role in backing Bright's CART effort. "I feel Jason Bright has a lot of talent and a potentially great future in CART," Hogan said. "I am very pleased to team with John Della Penna to provide Jason with a first class ride." As of the Motorola 300, Round 10 of 12 in the Dayton Indy Lights Championship, Bright has scored nine top-ten starts including a pole position at Mid-Ohio, and five podium finishes with a win at Portland. He is currently fifth in the driver's championship. "I've aspired to drive Champ Cars my whole life and to have this opportunity, especially to make my first race in Australia, means a great deal to me," Bright said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge and the excitement. Della Penna Motorsports has a number of good guys and they will help make this a great learning experience for me." "The FedEx Championship Series is extremely competitive, especially this season," he continued, "so I have to set realistic goals for myself. I'm going there to be as competitive as possible and hopefully finish in the top-15. If we make it into the top-ten even better."
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