On the right track - Surfers Paradise.

Dario Franchitti of Team KOOL Green holds the rights to the track qualifying mark on the 2.795-mile street course at Surfers Paradise with a time of 1:31.703 (109.724 mph), which propelled him to victory in 1999. In addition, Franchitti scored a pole in the 1998 event.

Current CART drivers who have tasted victory champagne Down Under include Michael Andretti in 1994, Paul Tracy (#26 KOOL Honda/Lola/Bridgestone) in '95, Jimmy Vasser from pole in '96, Adrian Fernandez (#51 Tecate/Quaker State/Telmex Honda/Lola/Bridgestone) in '00 and Cristiano da Matta in last year's event.

Michael Andretti joins Dario Franchitti (1998-99) and Nigel Mansell ('93-'94) for the most pole positions in Australia with two. Andretti topped qualifying for the 1991 and 1995 events.

Toyota powered Cristiano da Matta to a victory and the championship in the Round 16 race staged in Miami. Overall, Toyota-powered drivers have won nine of 16 CART FedEx Championship Series events contested this season with Cristiano da Matta (7) and Bruno Junqueira (2). Honda has five wins between Dario Franchitti (3), teammate Paul Tracy and technical partner Michael Andretti followed by Ford-Cosworth thanks to Patrick Carpentier's (#32 Player's/Indeck Ford-Cosworth/Reynard/Bridgestone) two Ohio triumphs. The hunt for the Manufacturer's Championship has Toyota (287) leading over Honda (241) and Ford-Cosworth (206).

In the CART FedEx Championship Series' 11-year history in Australia, the Toyota/Lola combination comes in as the defending race champion, supplying the setup that earned Cristiano da Matta the victory in last year's event. Overall, Ford (5) leads Honda (3) and Toyota (1) in total wins at Surfers Paradise, with Reynard (6) leading Lola (5) in the chassis battle.

Lola has won 13 of 16 CART FedEx Championship Series events this season, including wins by Cristiano da Matta (7), Dario Franchitti (3), Bruno Junqueira (2) and Paul Tracy. Reynard took trips to victory circle in the remaining three races this season in the hands of Patrick Carpentier (2) and Michael Andretti. Lola clinched the Constructor's Championship in the Round 14 Shell Grand Prix of Denver in September.