Team owner misses home race

The Australian, who joined forces with Walker Racing in 2005 to form Team Australia, and also co-owns a V8 Supercar team, suffered an injury to his inner ear during a routine flight in his helicopter on Monday.

He has been advised he cannot fly at altitudes greater than 2000 feet nor be exposed to loud noises without risking permanent hearing damage.

Gore said: "I am absolutely shattered that I have received this injury in the most exciting week of the year for myself, all our Team Australia, WPS/WOW Racing team members and Australian motorsport fans," said Gore.

"I would give anything in my power to be trackside this weekend but I can not risk further injury to my ear with exposure to the noise and excitement that Indy produces.

"I will obviously be glued to my television set all weekend and have every confidence that both our Champ Car and V8 Supercar teams can get the job done.

"I believe that Will (Power) has every chance of winning Sunday's Lexmark Indy 300 and if that is the case I'm sure he'll have no problems visiting me Sunday night with the trophy."

This brings to a total four team owners currently absent from one of Champ Car's acknowledged blue riband races.

Jerry Forsythe has not attended a race since Houston, Kevin Kalkhoven (PKV Racing) is in Dubai to have meetings with Sheikh Maktoum about a possible Champ Car race there in 2008 and it is believed that Paul Gentilozzi (Rocketsports Racing) is still in Michigan.

Ironically, Dan Pettit is here, to watch over RuSPORT - which he is planning to sell or close down at season's end.