Its official:
13/11/2007
BRISCOE TO DRIVE 2008 TEAM PENSKE INDYCAR ENTRY
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 12, 2007) - - Australian Ryan Briscoe will drive for Team Penske in the IndyCar Series beginning in 2008, Penske Racing executives announced Monday.
The 26-year-old Briscoe will pilot the No. 6 Team Penske Dallara/Honda sponsored by Philip Morris USA during the 16-event season. Briscoe replaces three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr., who announced Saturday he will drive the Penske Racing Mobil 1 Dodge in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
¿I am very excited to race for Team Penske; it¿s a dream come true,¿ Briscoe said. ¿I really want to thank Roger (Penske) and Tim (Cindric) for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. Racing for Penske¿s ALMS program in 2007 has been a highlight in my career, but open-wheel racing is where my heart lies, and I can't wait to race full time in the IndyCar Series for one of the best teams in open-wheel history.¿
The 2008 season marks Briscoe¿s second full-season of IndyCar Series competition. He has 20 career IndyCar starts, highlighted by a pole position at Infineon Raceway. In May, Briscoe drove the No. 12 Symantec Luczo Dragon Racing entry, with equipment leased from Penske Racing, in the 91st annual Indianapolis 500 where he finished fifth after starting seventh.
In 2007, Briscoe shared driving responsibilities with teammate Sascha Maassen for the No. 6 DHL Porsche RS Spyder in the American Le Mans Series for Penske Racing. Together, they earned three victories [St. Petersburg, Salt Lake City and Lime Rock], two poles [Belle Isle and Laguna Seca)] and finished second in the championship. Their teammates, Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard, earned the championship for Penske Racing behind the wheel of the No. 7 DHL Porsche RS Spyder.
¿Ryan has been a great addition to our organization. He did a terrific job at Indianapolis this year, and delivered for us in our ALMS program,¿ Penske said. ¿Obviously, he has big shoes to fill with Sam moving over to our NASCAR team, but he has shown us that he has the talent to win in the IndyCar Series.¿
Briscoe will team with two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves for the 2008 season as they set their sights on earning a record 13th national championship and 15th Indianapolis 500 victory for Team Penske.
Penske Racing is the most successful Indy Car racing team in history with 134 race wins, highlighted by a record 14 Indianapolis 500 victories, 12 season championships and 171 pole positions.
http://www.ryanbriscoe.com/