SURFERS PARADISE, Australia (AP) - Michael Andretti wants a memorable finish in his final CART race on the Surfers Paradise circuit.

Andretti, making his last appearance in Australia before switching to the rival Indy Racing League next season, is one of six drivers with Gold Coast Indy victories attempting to become the first repeat winner in the 12-year history of the race.

In 1991, it was an Andretti - Michael's cousin, John - who won the inaugural Gold Coast race on the 2.75-mile temporary street course that snakes around high-rise apartments, hotels and along the Pacific Ocean. That year, Michael Andretti won the pole.

Michael Andretti won the 1994 race and was the fastest qualifier in 1995, when Canadian Paul Tracy took the checkered flag. Other Gold Coast champions in Sunday's 70-lap race include Jimmy Vasser, who won from the pole in 1996, Dario Franchitti, the 1999 winner, Adrian Fernandez, the 2000 champ, and last year's winner Cristiano de Matta, who clinched the CART FedEx Championship Series title two weeks ago in Miami.

Andretti believes history, and some hometown connections, could give his Team Green and its Australian owner, Barry Green, the edge. Kim Green, Barry's brother, manages the Andretti team.

"I love coming to Surfers and I've done pretty well here in the past," Andretti said last week before arriving in Australia. "The city and all the fans getting really excited, and it just makes it a great week.

"I do feel like there is more pressure on us because it is a home race for Team Green and both Barry and Kim's family come out. But it's certainly an added incentive to have a good weekend."

In September, Andretti bought Team Green, and will begin running the new Andretti Green Racing team on Dec. 1 with partners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree.

Andretti will join the IRL with Franchitti and Tony Kanaan as his teammates for the 2003 season.

Local race officials have reported a 33-percent increase in ticket sales for the four-day event and have built four new grandstands. Honda Indy 300 chief executive officer Geoff Jones says crowds of more than 300,000 are expected for the extended race weekend.

Qualifying for the 195.65-mile race will take place Friday and Saturday. Franchitti set the one-lap qualifying record of 109.724 mph in 1999.