Bright joins champion Indy Lights team for 2000 season
21/2/2000 22:08 (Shane Rogers) - V8Supercar refugee Jason Bright will join champion team Dorricott Racing for the 2000 Indy Lights season. Bright, 26, left the Stone Brothers Racing V8Supercar team at the end of the 1999 season in order to restart his international open-wheeler career, which was suspended in 1996 due to lack of funds.
In 1996 he finished second in both the United States Formula Ford 2000 championship, as well as the Australian Drivers Championship for Formula Holden. In 1997 he concentrated his efforts on winning the Australian Drivers Championship, before moving to V8Supercars.
Bright won two V8Supercar races, the 1999 Hidden Valley Shell Series round, and the 1998 FAI 1000, but his open-wheeler ambitions led him to leave SBR for Dorricott. “My ambition in motorsports has always been to someday compete in the highest echelons of motorsports," said Bright.
Dorricott Racing are the defending series champions, finishing first, second and third in the 1998 series. Team owner Bob Dorricott was impressed with Bright after his Lights test in December, and is pleased that Bright has managed to secure enough funds for a full Lights season.
Dorricott explained: “Jason's decision to run a full Indy Lights campaign with us bodes well for Dorricott Racing as we approach the beginning of the 2000
season. He's an 'impact player' who excels in a highly competitive environment.”
Bright has no illusions about the upcoming season, but it confident about figuring in the final season result. “It doesn't happen overnight. It takes time develop the skills and gain the needed experience. I think my racing career to date has helped position me in the right place at the right time to take the next step forward.”
The 12-race Dayton Indy Lights season starts at Long Beach on April 16.
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