Bright outlook for Della Penna.

As expected, Indy Lights driver Jason Bright will make his Champcar debut at Surfers' Paradise next month.

The Australian had hoped to conclude a deal for the race with Hogan Racing, out of CART competition this year, but had to switch to a back-up plan when the finance failed to come through. Linking up with Della Penna saved his ride, but Bright now faces a short acclimatisation period before the cars are packed off to the Gold Coast for the penultimate round of the series.

He will also have to compete at Surfers' without the benefit of a team-mate, after Della Penna regular Memo Gidley was ruled out of action by a crash at the Gateway oval last time out. The young American was unhurt in the incident, but the impact was enough to render his Reynard unusable, and left the under-funded team with just one car for the Australian trip.

Bright got his first taste of CART performance at the Firebird circuit in Phoenix yesterday [Monday], and appeared to make the transition from his usual Indy Lights car with few problems.

''I was pretty amazed by the power, but it wasn't nearly as physical as I had expected,'' he told Speedvision.com, ''The braking's probably a little more difficult that I expected, but getting through the corner ands the feeding the power in was easier. All in all, it went really well.''

A further test is expected before the Australian heads back to his homeland for his Champcar debut, and he will be present in Houston this weekend for the penultimate round of the Indy Lights series.

Gidley, meanwhile, will continue his association with Della Penna at the feature event in Texas, and will resume his role when the CART series concludes in the US, at Fontana on the last weekend of October. Both team and driver hope to continue working together next season.