Around the tracks?August 14 2009

JAMES Davison drove brilliantly to convert pole position into an Indy Lights victory at the Mid-Ohio course last weekend. It was the second career victory for the third-generation racer and came at the same track where he scored his first Lights victory in 2008.

RYAN Briscoe's snakes-and-ladders chase for the Indy Racing League crown took a slight slide at Mid-Ohio when he could only manage third place behind Kiwi Scott Dixon, who claimed the IRL record with his 20th series victory. Briscoe was also beaten by Britain's Justin Wilson, as Dixon moves into the championship lead with a 20-point margin over him.

GARTH Tander will lead the Holden Racing Team until at least the end of 2011 after re-signing with the factory Holden team for another two seasons. He has been part of the Walkinshaw Racing stable for five years, winning his V8 Supercar championship with the HSV Dealer Team before being transferred to Team Red alongside Mark Skaife and now Will Davison.

JACOB Smith, riding a Honda CRF 450, was the overall winner of the 2009 Australasian Safari with Stephen Riley and John Doble taking the auto division in a Mitsubishi Pajero. Smith led from the third stage and eventually took the overall victory from his brother Todd after seven days of competition that ended in Kalgoorlie

SHAWN Jamieson became the first 2009 title winner in the Shannons Nationals series when he took the saloon car crown in round seven at Morgan Park in Queensland. Matt Kingsley is on track for the Porsche

GT3 Cup Challenge after his fourth straight round win as Lee Castle swept the Australian Manufacturers Championship races with his Subaru WRX STi. The Shannons Nationals moves to Oran Park next month for the last major meeting at the Sydney track.

DAVID Brabham took another second place for Acura in the American Le Mans Series race at Mid-Ohio last weekend. He lost his shot at first place when his co-driver Scott Sharp damaged the bodywork while lapping a backmarker.