My first impression of the new Telstra Sydney 500 track
is that it will probably create more passing opportunities than some of
the other street circuits we race on.

I had my first look at the 3.4km circuit at Homebush last Friday while
in Sydney for the official launch of the 14th and final round of this
year's V8 Supercar Championship (December 4-6).

The lap I did around the track was a slow passenger ride in a taxi, and
I'm sure the layout will seem completely different driving at speed in
the Jim Beam Racing FG Falcon.

However, from what I saw, the Homebush track seems wider than some of
the other V8 Supercar street circuits. I'm told the width is about
12-metres, so overtaking may prove easier than elsewhere.

The layout has several high-speed sections, where we will be in top gear
reaching speeds of up to 260-km/h, and there are also some 'stop-go'
corners which will be hard on brakes.

I'm sure there will be plenty of competition between the drivers to try
and become the first winner of what will be among the most prestigious
events on the V8 Supercar calendar.

My family lives in Sydney, and my personal sponsors JELD-WEN are also
based there, so I have plenty of incentive to do well.

V8 Supercars Australia has been trying to establish a major street race
in Sydney for many years, and it's good for the growth of the sport that
it's now about to happen.

There was plenty of 'hype' and a positive atmosphere at the launch for
the public in Martin Place on Saturday.

Most of the championship drivers were present and we were introduced to
the large crowd who attended. There was also a question-and-answer
session involving Will Davison (Holden Racing Team), Rick Kelly (Jack
Daniel's Racing), Mark Winterbottom (Ford Performance Racing), and
myself.

My visit to Sydney also included an appearance with Will on Channel 7's
'Sunrise' television program on Friday to help promote the new Sydney
event.

Afterwards we went out to Homebush for some photographs at various
locations around the track.

The Homebush event is going to include a variety of off-track
entertainment, including rock concerts, activities for children, plus
car displays.

Another plus for fans attending is they can arrive and depart via the
Olympic Park Railway Station.

A major street race at Homebush also encourages corporate hospitality
opportunities for Sydney-based and national companies, whether they are
involved in the championship or not.

Before heading to Sydney, I took part in a Jim Beam Racing test session
at Queensland Raceway last Thursday.

This was only our second test this year, and it was good to experiment
and assess how the car performed with various changes made during the
session.

I drove about 175 laps during the test, combining short and long driving
stints on various tyres.

Hopefully the test will help produce some good results in the fourth
round of the championship at Symmons Plains in Tasmania in a couple of
weeks (May 29-31).

I've raced at the 2.4km Symmons Plains track near Launceston in each of
the past three years, with mixed results.

I have qualified in the top 10 twice before, and my best race result to
date was finishing fifth in the first of the three races in 2006.

However, in 2008 I was forced to retire from the first race when the
steering on my car was bent after contact with Steven Richards' Falcon.

I will be travelling to Tasmania on the Wednesday before the racing
starts, and later that day I will be making an appearance at the
JELD-WEN headquarters in Launceston.

Keep smiling.

JC