Hinchcliffe’s accident forced Briscoe to change plans

Ryan Briscoe

Ryan Briscoe was planning on spending Memorial Day weekend at home with his 17 month old daughter before heading off to France for the LeMans race with the Tudor Series. His friends from Australia are in the US and were asking him "when are you coming to Indianapolis?"

With no ride secured earlier this month, Ryan was not going to be in Indy with them. Then the unfortunate happened on Monday for James Hinchcliffe and his injuries would not allow him to drive in the 500. Ryan said he started to think that he might get a call from Sam Schmidt and 12 hours later he did and he accepted the ride for this weekend.

Ryan had a couple laps of practice in the IndyCar this morning and said the car feels like the car he drove last year for Ganassi Racing. The team will use the data already acquired this month and the game plan will not be altered due to the driver change. Ryan said "I am continuing the work that Hinchcliffe started this month."

"I have never had a driving suit fit me as well as Hinch's. It is a terrible thing for Hinch to be sidelined but he is doing great and he will have 100 % recovery."

Ryan has won both endurance races he has run this season. He wants to win this Indy 500 and he stated "I believe that I can do it this year!" Lucille Dust reporting from Indianapolis