Motorsport: Dixon and Radisich could team up for Bathurst

A dream team of drivers Scott Dixon and Paul Radisich could be on the entry list for Australia's Bathurst 1000km classic race in October.

Team Kiwi principal David John said today that he had had seven to eight discussions so far with Dixon's manager, former Formula One star, Stefan Johansson, and the ball was now in the 2003 Indy Racing League champion's court.

"Scott has always said he wants to do Bathurst at some time. All we are saying is, if that's the case, here is an opportunity. We are putting it on the table for you to say yes or no," John said.

Talks with Johansson had started "ages ago" and there had been seven to eight discussions.

"It's just a matter of whether Scott wants to drive -- he has got the Indy 500 this weekend so he obviously needs to get that out of the way."

He had last spoken with Johansson earlier this week who said with the Indy 500 this week, now was not the time get an answer from Dixon or to approach his team owner, Chip Ganassi.

"We are at the point where we have made the offer -- it is up to him."

There was a window in the IRL calendar between Watkins Glen, New York, on September 25, and the Toyota Indy 400 in California on October 15 that would allow Dixon to race at Bathurst on October 9.

"We wanted Dixon to also race for us at Sandown in September but there is a clash of dates with the IRL schedule."

John said it would be fantastic to have Dixon and Radisich, a former world touring car champion, running together in one of the team's Holdens at Bathurst.

" Scott will be a nice fit for the team and it will be very good from a New Zealand point of view.

"It would be a dream pairing from a Kiwi perspective -- from profile and publicity.

"It would be nice to see Dixon in a New Zealand car in his native homeland and we have a very competitive package running sixth in the Aussie V8 series currently."

Dixon said this week from Indianapolis he was meeting with New Zealand A1 world series franchise chief executive Bob McMurray who is attending the Indy 500.

He knew franchise owner Colin Giltrap well and was interested in learning more about the series which involves teams representing their countries.

"I think it's extremely interesting for New Zealand -- I want to be included in the way of talking and knowing what is going on -- if it ever involves me racing (in it) or something like that, I'm not sure at this moment."

New Zealander Greg Murhpy is the current "King" of Bathhurst's Mt Panorama circuit, having won for the third time last year, and holds the fastest time set there.

- NZPA