For 2006, the young Australian would see limited duty, driving three races for Dreyer & Reinbold and scroring a career-best third place finish at Watkins Glen. For 2007 he was signed by Team Penske to help with their American Le Mans Series effort, with the provision that he would also get to race the Indy 500. He ran a solid race for Luczo-Dragon, a Penske "satellite" outfit, and impressed the "regular" team with his attitude. Further seat-time as a test driver for the team would follow.

Now comes the payoff: Team Penske has offically annouced that Briscoe will, as many already expected, fill the car vacated by Sam Hornish Jr. for the '08 season.

Team owner Roger Penske, who has always had an "eye" for up-and-comming talent, gave Ryan high praise.  "He had the experience with a year at Ganassi, had been involved in a lot of road racing and was a Formula One test driver and we were really impressed with the job he did with Porsche. There were two key points and No. 1 was to run him at Indy. He did a great job and was right there if it hadn't rained. No. 2, we wanted to see what he did with the Porsche program and he did very well. We tested him (in an IndyCar Series car) at Milwaukee and Sebring and he fits our mold. He's young and he understands the sponsor and I think he has a long career with us." 

"The IndyCar Series is where I really wanted to be next year," said Briscoe, who recently turned 26. "I'm just so excited about having a second chance in the IndyCar Series "I definitely feel I have unfinished business after 2005. Coming back to Indy this year was a great step forward and I want to build on that. I know the history Penske has and the drivers that have raced there and the drivers that have wanted to race. It is an amazing feeling and I want to make the most of it."

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