Ryan Briscoe has started in the top 10 of the Indianapolis 500 five times and owns three top 10 finishes. Despite that, he entered this year not thinking he’d be part of the 2015 race.
2015 Indy 500: Start time, schedule and TV coverage
Find out how to watch the Indianapolis 500, which includes 10-year vet and fill-in driver Ryan Briscoe looking for his first win.
“To have this opportunity, it’s great,” Briscoe told reporters on Thursday. “Obviously coming into the Indy 500 like this, it’s not the ideal situation.”
Forgive Briscoe for coming across as having mixed feelings. The 10-year IndyCar veteran’s spot in the big race was secured when James Hinchcliffe was injured in a crash during practice on Monday.
“Obviously my thoughts go to James,” Briscoe said. “You never like to be part of a situation like this. Best wishes for him and his recovery.”
Briscoe, who finished in fifth in the Indianapolis 500 in 2007 and 2012, is familiar with the track but will race for a team -- Schmidt Peterson Motorsports -- that he has never worked with before. Despite that, Briscoe feels a level of comfort that he says will help on Sunday.
“I actually know a number of the mechanics on the team,” Briscoe explained. “There’s just a wealth of experience there.”
“This team has had a lot of success in this series, at this track,” he added. “I feel I’ve been made as comfortable as I can be in this situation.”
Briscoe will start the race in Row 11 (32nd overall). That’s the lowest starting position he’s had in any of the 10 Indy 500 races in which he’s participated.
Schedule
Date: Sunday, May 24
Start time: 12:15 p.m. ET
TV: ABC, WatchESPN
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