By Dave Lewandowski
indy500.com
Monday, November 12, 2007
"The IndyCar Series is where I really wanted to be next year," said Briscoe, who turned 26 on Sept. 24. "I'm just so excited about having a second chance in the IndyCar Series. I definitely feel I have unfinished business after 2005. Coming back to Indy this year was a great step forward, and I want to build on that."
Briscoe recorded three top-10 finishes in 15 races with Target Chip Ganassi Racing in 2005 and started from the pole in the inaugural IndyCar Series race at Infineon Raceway. An accident in the race at Chicagoland Speedway cut short his season, and he did not return to the team for '06. He competed in three events in 2006 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, earning a third place at Watkins Glen International.
Briscoe was driving one of the Penske Racing LMP2 cars in the American Le Mans Series this year when he was named the driver of the No. 12 Luczo Dragon Racing entry for the 91st Indianapolis 500. Briscoe finished fifth for the team co-owned by Roger Penske's youngest son, Jay.
"It's great timing, especially at this point in my career," said Briscoe, a native of Sydney, Australia, who lives in North Carolina. "The fact that I'm racing in America is a great chance for me. I know the history Penske has and the drivers that have raced there and the drivers that have wanted to race. It is an amazing feeling and I want to make the most of it. I've been under their eye for a while with the Porsche ALMS program, and I've been closely watched.
"If Sam wasn't going to NASCAR, I would have done all I could to be patient and remain on the team."
Briscoe joins two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves on Penske's two-car IndyCar Series team. Penske Racing is the most successful Indy car racing team in history with 134 victories -- highlighted by a record 14 Indianapolis 500-Mile Race wins.
"He had the experience with a year at Ganassi, had been involved in a lot of road racing and was a Formula One test driver, and we were really impressed with the job he did with Porsche," Penske said. "There were two key points, and No. 1 was to run him at Indy. He did a great job and was right there if it hadn't rained. No. 2, we wanted to see what he did with the Porsche program, and he did very well. We tested him (in an IndyCar Series car) at Milwaukee and Sebring, and he fits our mold. He's young, and he understands the sponsor, and I think he has a long career with us."
Briscoe asked Penske Racing for an opportunity to drive at Indy when he signed on with the Porsche ALMS program.
"I know he is appreciative of having a chance to run at Indy in good equipment, and he did a great job," Penske Racing President Tim Cindric said. "We didn't let him get caught up in the qualifying game, and he did a steady race and took advantage of an opportunity there, for sure."
Mike Hull, managing director at Target Chip Ganassi Racing, said he'd be happy to see Briscoe become "The Comeback Kid."
"Of any of the young guys coming along, he's at the top of the list in terms of drivers who deserve an opportunity to do that," Hull said. "He's a competitive guy, and he works at getting better. When he was with us, he was a testament to young, aggressive guys.
"With Penske Racing, he'll run at the front."
Everything lined up perfectly for Briscoe with Hornish moving to NASCAR and Briscoe performing well for Penske Racing's ALMS team in 2007. As one of the drivers for the Penske Porsche, Briscoe was behind the wheel for a series championship, including three victories.
Briscoe has some lofty goals to achieve in a car that has achieved some impressive accomplishments.
"I'm going into the IndyCar Series next year a very different way than I did in '05 with Ganassi," Briscoe said. "I know a lot more about the IndyCar Series now, and I have a lot more experience. I won't be going into the first race with just two days of oval experience under my belt. And I'm with a team I've already worked with for a while year.
"Obviously, the expectations are going to be high but I'm going to be doing all I can to live up to them. Hopefully, I can bring home some wins next year. That will be the ultimate."
***
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