Ganassi add Aussie Briscoe to IndyCar team

Australia's Ryan Briscoe will drive Chip Ganassi Racing's number eight car in the 2014 IndyCar series, the team said Friday. In announcing their four-driver lineup for next season, Ganassi said Brazilian Tony Kanaan will take over the number 10 car now that injuries have forced Scotland's Dario Franchitti into retirement. Kanaan had already been slated to drive for the team next year and team owner Chip Ganassi had indicated in November, after three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Franchitti announced his retirement because of injuries suffered in a crash at Houston in October, that the Brazilian might take over the number 10 car. Briscoe, 32, has a history with Ganassi. He drove for the team during the 2005 IndyCar season after serving as a test driver for Panasonic Toyota Racing in Formula One the previous year. In May, Briscoe drove the team's number eight car in a one-off ride in the Indianapolis 500, finishing 12th. That was his first start in the series since he left Team Penske at the end of the 2012 season. In five seasons with Penske he notched seven wins. "This is just great news, and I can't wait to get back behind the wheel of the number eight car again," Briscoe said. "We built some great chemistry during the month of May this year with the whole crew." Last week, Briscoe's wife, Nicole, gave birth to the couple's first child, Finley Evers. "For me personally it's been an amazing last few days," he said. "I couldn't be happier right now." Kanaan's emotions were more mixed. "I'm extremely excited, but this is a very bittersweet day for me as many of you know," he said. While he's excited about the possibilities for 2014, "I'm taking over the seat my good friend, Dario, had to leave." Franchitti posted on his Twitter account after Ganassi's announcement. "I'm really glad the 10 car is in good hands," he said. Briscoe and Kanaan will team with New Zealand's Scott Dixon, who won his third IndyCar series championship this year, and Charlie Kimball, who won a race in the series for the first time in August at Mid-Ohio. Source: AFP