If history repeats itself Robby Gordon, Raul Boesel, Stefan Johannson, Scott Pruett or maybe even one of IndyCar's talented newcomers could be next in line to establish a "first" when the PPG IndyCar World Series takes place at Surfer's Paradise.

Whenever the PPG IndyCar World Series arrives in Surfer's Paradise, as the saying goes, always expect the unexpected.

The event debuted in 1991 with Pennzoil/Hall Racing and John Andretti claiming the first and only victory in the team's very first event.

Two years later Nigel Mansell(82,893 bytes) became the first driver in history to win from the pole in his inaugural PPG Cup performance.

Last year it was the turn of Target/Chip Ganassi Racing and Reynard, with Michael Andretti driving a new Reynard 941 chassis to victory circle in the Marque's IndyCar debut.

Andretti's win came in the first PPG IndyCar World Series event ever to be stopped because of darkness. Rain and a first lap accident caused the event to be delayed for more than two hours.

Michael will return to Australia with a different team in 1995.

Mario's eldest son has rejoined the K-Mart/Texaco Havoline/Newman/Haas Racing team, the same squad he partnered in winning the 1991 PPG Cup. He is joined by Paul Tracy, who has moved over from Marlboro Team Penske to wear K-Mart/Budweiser colours in 1995.

Together the Newman/Haas duo has combined for 16 wins on temporary street circuits such as Surfer's Paradise. Andretti's total of twelve street course wins is second to Al Unser Jr's eighteen among active drivers.

Defending PPG Cup champion Al Unser Jr may be the leader in street circuit victories, yet he's never enjoyed great success in Australia, finishing fourteenth, fifteenth, fourth and sixteenth.

On the other hand Marlboro Team Penske team mate Emerson Fittipaldi registered a Surfer's Paradise victory in 1992 and has placed second here in each of the last two seasons.

Bobby Rahal (Miller Genuine Draft Lola) has flirted with victory at the Gold Coast, finishing second in 1991 and third in 1992. After developing the Honda engine last season, he and Rahal-Hogan team mate Boesel (Duracell Charger Lola) are campaigning the new Mercedes-Benz engine this year.

Gordon (Valvoline/Cummins Reynard Ford) and Jacques Villeneuve (Team Green Player's Limited Reynard Ford) both drove outstanding races in Australia last year before their days ended in separate accidents.

Villeneuve starts IndyCar Australia as the season leader, after winning the Miami opening round on March 5th for Australian team owner Barry Green.

Among those drivers looking for their first IndyCar wins are some who competed in Australia during their Formula One careers. Bettenhausen Motorsports' Johannson (Alumax Aluminium Penske Mercedes), Mauricio Gugelmin (PacWest Reynard Ford) and Christian Fittipaldi (Marlboro/Bardahl Reynard Ford) all have their sights set on victory.

Fittipaldi, a Walker Racing team mate to Gordon, is expected to battle three other South American newcomers for Rookie of the Year honours.

Chilean Eliseo Salazar (Cristal Lola Ford) and Brazilian Gil de Ferran (Hall Racing Pennzoil Reynard Mercedes) and Andre Ribiero (LCI Reynard Honda) are making their IndyCar debuts this season.

Ribiero will be running for New Zealander Steve Horn's Tasman Motorsports Group Team. After capturing the past two PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championships, Tasman has become the first full team/driver combination to move up from Lights to IndyCars.

Tasman joins Patrick Racing as two of the teams sporting Firestone rubber. The tyre giant returns to IndyCar racing after a twenty year absence to do battle with Goodyear, which has won 304 consecutive races!

Scott Pruett the reigning American Trans-Am champion, handles the driving duties for Patrick.

A pair of Californian's will form the driver combination for the Target/Ganassi Racing team at Surfer's Paradise.

Bryan Herta, the 1993 Indy Lights champion, will pilot the Target/Scotch Reynard Ford, while Jimmy Vasser is behind the wheel in the Target/STP car. Vasser started quickly a year ago with a strong fourth place in Australia.

Two former PPG IndyCar winners have joined new teams in 1995. Former PPG Cup champion Danny Sullivan (Bank of America Reynard Ford) partners Miami runner-up Mauricio Gugelmin on the PacWest Racing Group team.

Teo Fabi (Combustion Engineering/Indeck Reynard Ford) has reunited with Gerry Forsythe for the first time since the duo nearly won the PPG Cup title together in 1983.

Adrian Fernandez, Sullivan's former team mate at Galles Racing, returns for his third season with Galles in the Tecate Beer/Quaker State Lola Mercedes.

A pair of former Toyota Atlantic champions also are entered to compete in IndyCar Australia.

Series regulars Dean Hall (Subway Lola Ford) joins Eliseo Salazar at Dick Simon Racing, while Hiro Matsushita (Panasonic Reynard Ford) is campaigning for the revamped Arciero-Wells Racing.

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