Mid-Ohio: Briscoe on its way

Victory often leads to success, Ryan Briscoe demonstrated it this Saturday on the Mid-Ohio circuit. The Penske team driver, winner at Kentucky Speedway by a slim margin (over Ed Carpenter) last weekend, dominated the qualifying session with authority.

The Australian, however, remained discreet during the first round, remaining in ambush in group 2 behind Helio Castroneves. In the first group, Scott Dixon and Justin Wilson, both sharp, had just competed for the best time. The New Zealander emerged victorious from this first phase, in 1:07:1251. At the end of the first round, Tony Kanaan and EJ Viso both went off the track, one into the grass, the other into the protective tires, but without any consequences.

During the second phase of the session, Dario Franchitti shot first, before being relayed by Graham Rahal, EJ Viso, Scott Dixon then Ryan Briscoe, the latter going to drive the point home shortly after, by setting an excellent time ( 1?06??9026). But the duettists Dixon and Wilson would overtake him, also qualifying for the third round. The three men were accompanied by Castroneves, Rahal and Franchitti.

In this third phase with six drivers, Helio Castroneves was the fastest (1:07:0345) but was quickly caught by Justin Wilson (1:06:9088). The Briton was followed by Castroneves and Briscoe, but the latter would knock out his rivals with a fantastic time. In 1:06??6814, the Australian took pole position, ahead of Justin Wilson by two hundredths (1:06??7007), and Scott Dixon. Graham Rahal, Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti completed the Top 6.