After running a part-time schedule last year in IndyCar, Ryan Briscoe is back behind the wheel full-time as he will battle for the championship in a ride prepared from Chip Ganassi Racing.
“It’s like everything I wanted after I didn’t get a full-time ride last year has sort of come true now,” Briscoe comments on returning full-time this year. “It’s really the perfect scenario. Last year we sort of got to a point around this time where I was like, Full-time ride is not looking good, but that’s all right, we’ll focus on doing something for the Indy 500, I’ll keep my racing up by doing the sports cars.
“I didn’t think I would do as many IndyCar races as I ended up doing. The end goal was I want to get back to IndyCar and have a full-time ride in 2014. I thought my best way of doing that was to do the sports cars last year, then work hard from that point on on being here now.”
As we sit five weeks from the season, Briscoe is one of the many drivers that has been busy testing and for him with being on a new team, he says that anytime with the crew is important.
“We’ve put together a new team to run the fourth car at Ganassi. Got a few familiar faces there, but a lot of new guys as well,” Briscoe comments. “For Eric Cowdin, who is my engineer this year, we worked together for a few years at Penske. We’re both new, getting back integrated into Chip Ganassi Racing. A bit to learn for both of us. A few new mechanics and stuff.
“The testing has been great, getting everybody working together, trying to get into a bit of a flow as we get closer to the first race. We’re testing one more time at Barber before the first race. Really there’s not a whole lot of track time. ”
As he continues to prepare for the year, there’s also the added factor ofgetting to know his teammates – one of those being Tony Kanaan, who also joins CGR this year.
“He’s definitely a fun character to have around. He’s always a lot of fun. He’s aggressive. He’s definitely got a unique driving style that I’ve picked up on the last couple tests, which is interesting to look at and learn from as well,” Briscoe comments. “I’m looking forward to working with him. How he’s going to fit in? He has his own style, so I think he’ll fit in the way he always does. I think he’ll be good.”
Briscoe will also be working closely with 2013 IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon as Chip Ganassi Racing looks for their second straight championship.
“I think he’s just solid, man, like a rock. Even-keeled. He just gets the job done,” Briscoe says. “Definitely having the continuity he’s had through highs and lows, he’s just been there the whole time. When he’s had those bad days, he doesn’t say bad things about the team. He just gets down to work and works really hard behind the scenes without publicizing it so much. I think that’s what he’s good at.
“He’s a phenomenal driver. He’s fast, he’s consistent. He’s just the same every year. You can always count on him going for a championship again.”
Right now the focus is being ready for the opening races for the season for Briscoe. However, the season will quickly approach May, which marks an important mark with the Indianapolis 500, and now the addition of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course event as well.
“I think it’s going to be good ’cause I like the fact that we’re extending the month of May,” Briscoe comments. “I think it’s going to be an exciting way to open up the month of May with a big event. Something new for a lot of fans that will be there that maybe just go to the Indy 500 every year, haven’t seen what we actually do most of the time throughout the year, which is road course racing.
“I think being able to showcase our diversity as a series on one venue, in one place, I think that’s going to be great for the series and great for a lot of the fans as well.”
Briscoe helped with getting the date on the schedule as he did the testing for the series back in November, driving a couple variations of the circuit, including going both ways down the straight.
“I think it’s going to be great,” he adds. “It’s going to be a quick turnaround from race day to opening day for the oval the next day. It will be a refocus like you’re going to a new place because your mindset changes completely.
I’m hoping it’s a success. I think it’s a great idea. I’m hoping the fans really take to it.”
While his focus is on IndyCar, there’s a question that always come up with Chip Ganassi having a NASCAR team – would Briscoe try out stock cars and possibly run the Daytona 500?
“I’ve never really put any effort into talking to anyone about doing that, so not really,” Briscoe says. “I don’t have any experience driving stock cars. I think it’s a cool idea, but it takes a lot of effort from the team’s standpoint as well to make that happen. They probably look more towards guys that have won those races to begin with if someone’s going to do it.”
