Bio
The 2008 season marks Ryan Briscoe’s second year with Penske Racing, but his first as part of its IndyCar Series program as he pilots the No. 6 Team Penske Dallara/Honda. The 26-year-old Australian will be making his debut for Team Penske following a successful 2007 season driving Penske Racing’s American Le Mans Series entry. Not only did he and teammate Sascha Maassen finish second in the 2007 Championship to teammates Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, but Briscoe also earned ALMS “Rookie-of-the-Year” honors.
Briscoe heads into the 2008 season with 19 career IndyCar Series starts over the past three seasons. He ran 14 of the 17 events in 2005 for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, highlighted by a pole at Infineon Raceway and three top-10 finishes. His 2005 season was cut short following a serious accident suffered at Chicagoland Speedway. In 2006, Briscoe ran four races and earned his first IndyCar Series podium finish (third) at Watkins Glen International. Briscoe also demonstrated his versatility as a driver that year by competing in five different series including the IndyCar Series, the Grand-Am Series and the Champ Car Series, as well as the A1GP and V8 Supercar Enduros in his native Australia.
In 2007, Briscoe participated in the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 driving the No. 12 Symantec Luczo Dragon Racing entry, with equipment that was leased from Penske Racing. He finished fifth after starting seventh. Briscoe began his racing career in 1993 at the age of 11 by competing in the Junior Yamaha Australian Championship; he would go on to earn a championship in the series the following year. In 1995, he won his second consecutive championship and was named C.A.M.S. (Confederation of Australian Motorsports) Junior Karter of the Year. In 1996, Briscoe continued his karting career by winning the Junior Intercontinental A Australian and Oceania Championships.
Briscoe moved to Italy in 1997, providing a true turning point in his career. He began competing in Europe, which would ultimately provide key opportunities to his future success.
In 1998, he won the Formula A North American Championship and in 1999, captured the Formula A Italian Championship as well.
In 2001, Briscoe won the Formula Renault 2000 Italian Championship and finished fourth in the Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup. He competed in the 2002 Formula 3 German Championship where he raced in six races, earning three podium appearances, as well as seven events in the Formula 3000 International Championship.
Briscoe also became a test and back-up driver for Panasonic Toyota Racing in Formula 1 in 2002, a position he earned through his participation in the Toyota Drivers Academy (TDA) program, which he entered in 2001. During his tenure in the TDA program, he competed in the Formula 3 Series in 2003, where he earned the championship title on the strength of eight wins.
In his spare time, Briscoe is an avid fan of watersports. He enjoys waterskiing, wake boarding and wake surfing. The 26 year old works out seven days a week employing a triathlete’s regimen of running, biking, swimming and weight training. In addition, he enjoys golf and tennis.
Briscoe is single and currently lives in Cornelius, N.C.
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