After a big weekend of V8 Supercars racing at the Coates Hire Ipswich 300, it was a mixed bag for several of the international drivers that are due to be in Australia for the Armor All Gold Coast 600 across October 21-23.  Boris Said pulled double duty over the weekend racing in both the American GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and NASCAR Nationwide series in Montreal, a week after his monumental blow up at fellow NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle at Watkins Glen.  Said - who will partner Steve Owen in the #47 VIP Petfoods Commodore on the Gold Coast - and GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series teammate and V8 Supercars alumni - Owen Kelly - were ahead of the pack early landing pole for the GT category, however their luck was to run out with the pair dropping out of contention.  The bad luck continued for Said in the NASCAR Nationwide series with the race being yellow flagged on lap 51 after he got stuck in the gravel trap on turn 10; Alex Tagliani - who is slated to join David Reynolds in the #16 Stratco Commodore - was able to hold his own in a rare NASCAR appearance, swapping paint with a number of drivers challenging him for his second place position.  In Wisconsin, six of the Armor All Gold Coast 600 internationals were battling it out in the GT class.  Jim Beam Racing's internationals - Dirk Muller (Steven Johnson) and Joey Hand (James Moffat) clinched pole position, with Chevrolet competitors - Oliver Gavin - (due to partner Greg Murphy) and Jan Magnussen - who will race with Russell Ingall - less than a second behind.  Muller and Hand annexed third position in their class from Porsche duo Joey Hand and Jorg Bergmeister - who will partner Todd Kelly and Fabian Coulthard respectively, whilst Gavin and Magnussen came home in fifth placing.  Locally, Craig Lowndes continued his relentless hunt of V8 Supercars Championship leader - and team-mate - Jamie Whincup in the Coates Hire Ipswich 300, narrowing the lead gap to under 100 points as the Season of Endurance looms.  Tickets for the 2011 Armor All Gold Coast 600 are now on sale through Ticketek.com ticketek.com  or by phoning 132 849. The ticket includes entry to two massive concerts featuring the likes of legendary Scottish rockers, Simple Minds, The Potbelleez, Hoodoo Gurus, Eskimo Joe and Bliss N Eso among others.  Next weekend more internationals are back in action with the return of the Formula 1 Championship after the summer break and the IZOD IndyCar Series after the explosive New Hampshire event.