KEY POINTS:
Scott Dixon's Indy Racing League single-seater will share centre stage at this weekend's GT Radial Speedshow with a Ferrari Formula One car - and the road-going Nissan GT-R supercar.
The New Zealander's race car was shipped in from the United States this week especially for public viewing. The Nissan GT-R was brought in from the Nissan factory in Japan for the same reason. It has already been on show at a Nissan dealership in Auckland.
Dixon's racer will be on display near the Ferrari, giving visitors to the ASB Showgrounds the chance to conveniently eyeball two of the fastest single-seater race cars in the world.
This year's GT Radial Speedshow features not only some of the fastest, most exciting and most powerful race cars, but also some of the most spectacular performance cars, says organiser Keith Sharp.
"We're delighted with the way Speedshow 2008 has come together. The support we've had from a huge range of people associated with motorsport in this country has been phenomenal and we can genuinely say Speedshow will have something for every kind of motorsport fan."
The championship-winning midget and sprint cars of Michael Kendall and Carl Wilson will feature on the Western Springs Speedway exhibit while two-time New Zealand V8 champion John McIntyre is unveiling his brand-new Ford race car.
Expected to create much interest is an all-electric race car called the Saker GS750V. It is based on the Australian-made Saker GT chassis.
Sharp says several exhibitors are highlighting how they're dealing with environmental concerns in relation to motor vehicles and racing.
"With the electric GS750V, Speedshow will feature the Vectrix, the world's first street-legal electric bike."
The Nissan GT-R highlights an elite selection of performance cars, which include another GTR name - a kit car from British company Ultima Sports.
Billed as the world's most affordable supercar, the Ultima GTR was crowned the fastest production car in the world in 2006.
It's powered by a Chevrolet 6.3-litre V8 producing around 560kW (750bhp) and can be built at home or at the factory.
The cars that compete in the D1NZ National Drifting Championship will also feature.
And the search is on at the show for New Zealand's best car and driver to go head to head against seven Australian competitors in the second season of the Australian TV show Turtle Wax Blood, Sweat & Gears. The title of Australasia's King of Cars is up for grabs.
Any vehicle type is eligible. Competitors will be put through their paces in a series of challenges to test not only their need for speed but also their advanced driving skills, car handling and how well their machine scrubs up.
A new book on New Zealand race driver Paul Radisich is being launched at Speedshow. Check out the website at www.speedshow.co.nz for more on the show.
