Catchfence

“2008 Victory In ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225 Reignited His Career, Briscoe Considered Among Indy 500 Favorites”

West Allis, Wis. (May 11, 2009) – With strong performances dating back to June 1, 2008, Ryan Briscoe and his Team Penske “mates”, as the Australian would refer to his teammates, reignited the promising career of the 27 year-old with a victory in the ABC Supply / A.J. Foyt 225 at The Milwaukee Mile.

Heading in to last year’s IndyCar Series event at The Mile, Briscoe was not sure what his reception was going to be. Questions lingered from the previous Sunday’s pit road collision with Danica Patrick that put both cars out of the Indianapolis 500, and drew worldwide attention with Patrick’s swift walk down pit road. Briscoe had incurred the wrath of both Patrick and her legion of fans…and the media.

The start of 2008 – Briscoe’s first full season driving Roger Penske’s IndyCar Series machine as a teammate to Helio Castroneves – had been less than stellar. He had come back from serious injuries suffered in the 2005 season finale at Chicagoland Speedway, and had earned a chance of a lifetime with one of the best teams of all time in Indy car racing.

In the first five races of last year including the Indy 500, Briscoe’s best result was seventh at Kansas Speedway, hardly the performance normally expected of a Team Penske member.

Although he started eleventh in the Milwaukee race, he quickly became a contender, on pace and on the same straightaway as the leaders. His turn at the point came from laps 177-193, and the personable Aussie took the lead for good on lap 207 under green flag conditions. He led from there to the checkers, to record a historic milestone for his team: the 300th professional motorsports victory for team owner Roger Penske.

The victory seemed to ignite a spark in Briscoe as he went on to win two additional races, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and in the season-ending non-points race at Surfers Paradise, Australia. The three wins came on all three types of courses Indy Car runs: ovals, permanent road courses and street circuits. He also won three poles and finished a career-best fifth in the season point standings.

“I had a great time there (at The Milwaukee Mile) last year,” Briscoe said recently. “I was surprised my first win in the IndyCar Series came on an oval. It was definitely the turning point in my season last year, and I’m excited to go back!”

Indeed, Briscoe’s 2008 post-Milwaukee season was very good and it seems the confidence he gained with that win has carried over into the 2009 season.

He won the 2009 season opener in the Streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. and was fourth at Kansas Speedway in two of the first three races prior to the Indianapolis 500. He sits second in the season point standings going into Indy.

Since the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened on Wednesday of last week, Briscoe has been consistently fast in practice. On Pole Day Saturday, the race for the pole quickly boiled down to a contest between Briscoe and Castroneves.

It will be a one-two start in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, with Briscoe on the middle of the front row, next to his Penske teammate Castroneves, who won the pole position. From the drop of the green flag on Sunday in Indianapolis, Briscoe will be a contender. He’ll have the Indy 500’s winningest car owner, Roger Penske himself, calling Briscoe’s race strategy on Sunday.

The 2008 win at the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 squashed the Indy incident with Patrick and the doubters that didn’t think Briscoe could perform on ovals. He now has the team to contend for the Indianapolis 500 crown, and the confidence of arriving in Milwaukee a week later as the defending event champion. If Briscoe prevails in both IndyCar Series events, he’d become just the tenth driver since 1911 to score “the back-to-back double” – a win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway immediately followed by victory at The Milwaukee Mile.

The win last year at America’s Legendary Oval put Briscoe back on track for the season, and perhaps, for his career.

For tickets to see Ryan Briscoe, Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Vitor Meira, Dario Franchitti and all the stars of the IndyCar Series racing at The Milwaukee Mile on Sunday, May 31st, call (414) 453-8277 or visit the speedway’s website, www.milwaukeemile.com.

About The Milwaukee Mile

The Milwaukee Mile is the world’s oldest active motor speedway, dating back to 1903. The 2009 race season is in full swing later this month, with tickets available for the May 31st ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 IndyCar Series race, the June 19th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, the popular June 20th NASCAR Nationwide Series event. Plus, the return of 2009 Daytona 500 winner, Wisconsin NASCAR super star Matt Kenseth racing, along with his son Ross, on Saturday, August 29 on a one-day Wisconsin All-Star 100 race day that features three stock car divisions. For more information, visit www.milwaukeemile.com.

- The Milwaukee Mile Press Release