Roger Penske, wearing a tan Stetson in Texas Motor Speedway’s Victory Circle, hugged Ryan Briscoe about a long and as close as he did in 2008 when the Aussie driver gave Team Penske its 200th victory at The Milwaukee Mile.
After an Indianapolis 500 that started with promise but ended in the SAFER Barrier, Briscoe appreciated the show of support. He definitely earned it on the fast and furious 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway oval.
Briscoe, who started from the pole, overtook Danica Patrick on Lap 193 and held off the Andretti Autosport veteran over the remaining 35 laps to win the Firestone 550K on a heated night when sparks and tempers flared. IndyCar.com
Briscoe’s first victory of the season ended an eight-race losing streak. He had crashed out of last week’s 500, but he led 102 of the 228 laps Saturday night for a huge confidence boost.
“I needed that,” he said. “I knew I was going to have to (pass Patrick). I got a good run and used the push-to-pass (button) at the right time.”
“I’m surprised I didn’t have anything thrown at me,” he said of passing Patrick.
Briscoe had his share of concern in the 228-lap affair. He had slight contact with Scott Dixon and twice had to wait for Ryan Hunter-Reay to pit in front of him before he could leave his pit box.
Patrick finished second, easily her best finish of the season and maybe the best drive of her IndyCar career.
“It was probably my best, cleanest race from top to bottom,” she said.
Patrick had led only two laps over the past 16 races—both at Kentucky Speedway last August—and only 47 laps over the past five seasons.
“It was so great to get into the lead again,” she said. “But Ryan passed me on the outside and there was nothing I could do but swerve, and that doesn’t get you very far. He was fast and won.” Indianapolis Star
Patrick’s teammate, Marco Andretti, was third. Scott Dixon was fourth, followed by Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, who took over the series points lead from Penske driver Will Power. Power finished 14th and dropped out of the top spot for the first time this year.
Teammate Tony Kanaan, who charged from 33rd to 11th at Indianapolis, advanced from his 13th starting position to finish sixth in the Team 7-Eleven car. Ryan Hunter-Reay, the fourth Andretti Autosport car, also was a big gainer – 17 positions to seventh in the No. 37 IZOD entry. Alex Lloyd, who surprised quite a few with a fourth place at Indianapolis in the No. 19 Boy Scouts of America car for Dale Coyne Racing, had another strong race in finishing eighth. He started sixth, fell to 21st after a pit stop miscue and then sliced through the field.
Briscoe gave up the lead when he made a green-flag pit stop with 38 laps to go, after Patrick had already gotten back on the track from her last stop.
When Briscoe pulled away from his pit box, Patrick was coming onto the frontstretch and was already back to full speed.
After Briscoe got off the apron and pulled back on the track on the backstretch, Patrick easily got past him. When they finished that lap, Patrick had her first lead all season.
“It felt great to get into the lead again,” Patrick said.
Except it didn’t last long.
Within a lap after that, Briscoe was able to get the No. 6 car around the outside of Patrick. Once he did, Briscoe stayed there and built as much as a 2-second lead before setting for the win.
“I was hoping that there would be a whole lot of lapped traffic to show up,” Patrick said. “I guess I knew when he just drove around the outside of me when I had my foot down, he was pretty fast.”
“This is a huge win,” Briscoe said. “It has been a rough start. My two teammates have won races this year. It is a great feeling to join them in the winning list. ... Hopefully, we can get a few more victories this season.” The Associated Press
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