Grid girls at war

... for this week's V8 Supercars race in Surfers Paradise.

It's stilettos at 30 paces as contestants in the Miss Indy quest - which helped launch the career of Jennifer Hawkins - go toe-to-toe with the Miss V8 Supercars girls in a battle for the hearts and minds of motor racing fans.

The chequered flag fell on the Indy race for the last time two years ago when the US-based racing series ended its long association with the Gold Coast event, and the V8s have driven up to fill the void.  But that hasn't stopped Miss Indy organisers from continuing to run their pageant in opposition to the official Miss V8 Supercars title.

However, the Miss Indy girls have been banned from the Surfers Paradise street circuit and are not being recognised by officials from the Gold Coast 600 V8 race.  "They've done everything they can to block us out,"Miss Indy spokesman Andrew Drake said.

"This is our 20th year and we helped put the Gold Coast race on the map, so it would have been nice to be recognised.  The Indy name is more famous than the V8s and it's largely due to Miss Indy.''

Reigning Miss Indy Ashleigh Sudholz said it was "a shame'' this year's finalists would not be able to parade pit lane and take part in other official race activities.  "We don't get to go on track but it's still going to be a great event and everyone knows Miss Indy,'' she said.

"There are 28 Miss Indy finalists and only 16 Miss V8 Supercar finalists, so we dominate - and I reckon our girls are way hotter.''  The Miss Indy winner will still get to grace a racetrack - but it will be at the US Long Beach circuit in California, where the Indy race will be held next April.