Ryan Briscoe has been confirmed Friday as Chip Ganassi Racing’s fourth driver for the 2014 IndyCar season, although not in the No. 10 Target Chevrolet as had been forecast over the last week or so. Coupled with new baby Finley, born a few days ago, it’s been quite a week for Ryan and wife Nicole.
Instead, the Australian will run the same livery and number as he did for CGR in this year’s Indianapolis 500: the No. 8 NTT Data entry now with Chevrolet power instead of Honda. Tony Kanaan, who had been slated for that car and had additional Brazilian sponsors to help, will instead shift into the No. 10 Target car as Dario Franchitti’s replacement. The announcements were formalized at the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis.
Briscoe returns full-time to IndyCar for the first time since 2012, when funding failed to materialize to stay in Roger Penske’s third car. He spent five full seasons with Team Penske, where he won all seven of his races, and nearly the 2009 championship. He spent his first full season in IndyCar with Ganassi in 2005, but the team’s equipment was under par and Briscoe had a wealth of learning to do as a rookie.
It’s a multi-year deal and another opportunity for Briscoe in one of the most prized rides in IndyCar.
“This is just great news and I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the No. 8 car again,” Briscoe said. “We built some great chemistry during the month of May this year with the whole crew. I think all four drivers can win races next season and it’s not every day you get to be a part of a team like that. For me personally it’s been an amazing last few days – this announcement coupled with the birth of our first child just a few days back. I couldn’t be happier right now.”
Ganassi added that Briscoe’s experience, technical expertise and prior familiarity with the team were the reasons he was the best available candidate.
“Honestly, it is always refreshing when you have partners that get the big picture and both Target and NTT DATA both understand that,” he said. “This is the best of both worlds. We not only get the driver that we wanted to add to our team in Ryan Briscoe but in addition we are able to put them in the cars that I felt were the most appropriate. The news couldn’t really be better for all of our teams.”
Kanaan, meanwhile, will take on the role of replacing Franchitti in the No. 10 Target car.
“I’m extremely excited, but this is a very bittersweet day for me as many of you know,” he said. “On one hand I’m driving for the Target Team and couldn’t be more thrilled about the possibilities for next season. On the other hand I’m taking over the seat my good friend Dario had to leave. I was looking forward to reuniting with him more than anything as a teammate. I want to thank NTT DATA, Target and TNT Energy drink for looking at the big picture and making adjustments so that Scott, Ryan, Charlie and I can go out and get the job done for all our partners on track next season. The teamwork that has been shown here is a true reflection of Chip’s style as an owner. I can’t wait to get started.”
These two are the team newcomers alongside Scott Dixon in the No. 9 Target car, and Charlie Kimball in the No. 83 Novo Nordisk CGR entry. While Dixon and Kanaan will be based in Indianapolis, the Briscoe and Kimball entries will be operated from the second CGR shop in Brownsburg.
Kanaan also brought his longtime engineer Eric Cowdin with him to Ganassi, while the No. 10 engineering post has long been held by Chris Simmons. Simmons and Franchitti, obviously, worked wonders together. Engineering announcements will be confirmed shortly, and this post updated at that time.
Here’s Kanaan’s new get-up in Target gear:
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El australiano  correrá en la  con el equipo  a partir de la temporada 2014. El australiano sustituirá a , quien se vio obligado a retirarse del automovilismo debido a las secuelas del choque que tuvo en la penúltima fecha de la IndyCar 2013. Briscoe, quien había corrido con Ganassi en 2005, logró el tercer puesto de campeonato en 2009 y ocho victorias en cinco temporada con el equipo Penske. En 2013 se quedó sin patrocinadores, por lo que no compitió regularmente en la IndyCar.

Pese a sustituir a Franchitti, Briscoe utilizará el número 8. En tanto, el número 10 patrocinado por Target que utilizaba el escocés fue asignado al brasileño , ganador de las  de 2013, quien había fichado con Ganassi antes de la fecha de Houston. De este modo, Briscoe y Kanaan se suman al neozelandés , campeón en 2013, y el estadounidense Charlie Kimball, para completar las cuatro plazas de Ganassi. El equipo adoptará motores Chevrolet 2013, luego de haber competido con Honda desde 2006.

 intentará obtener su primer título desde 2006 con tres pilotos: el brasileño , subcampeón en 2013; el australiano , subcampeón en 2010, 2011 y 2012; y el colombiano , ganador de las 500 Millas de Indianápolis de 2000. Castroneves y Power continúan vinculados al equipo, en tanto que Montoya vuelve a los monoplazas luego de siete temporadas en la . Penske seguirá utilizando motores Chevrolet en 2014.

El tercer equipo de punta, , confirmó a cuatro pilotos para la temporada 2014. El canadiense  y los estadounidenses  y  permanecen en la estructura. Por su parte, se suma el colombiano , quien debutó en las 500 Millas de Indianápolis de 2013 con un segundo puesto, y es candidato a Novato del Año 2014. Andretti pasará a ser el primer equipo de Honda en 2014, tomando el lugar dejado por Ganassi.

Hay 19 pilotos confirmados oficialmente para la IndyCar 2013. El francés  tendrá como compañero de equipo en  al ruso . El estadounidense  correrá solamente en las seis carreras en óvalos, dejando su butaca en los circuitos mixtos para el británico . El francés  fichó con . Por último, los estadounidenses  y Josef Newgarden seguirán en los equipos Rahal y Fisher respectivamente, y el británico  en Dale Coyne.

En tanto, el japonés  seguiría en Foyt, aunque no se confirmó dicha información. Bryan Herta, Panther y Dreyer & Reinbold aún no anunciaron sus pilotos, en tanto que KV, Dale Coyne y Rahal tienen plazas adicionales a disposición. El venezolano , piloto de Andretti en 2013, no anunció sus planes, al igual que , , , , James Jakes y J. R. Hildebrand entre otros.