Australian Ryan Briscoe will drive in two IndyCar races this weekend at Detroit after US racer J.R. Hildebrand was dropped by Panther Racing, the team announced on Thursday.
The IndyCar team called Hildebrand’s departure four days after a last-place crash out on the fourth lap of the Indianapolis 500 a “mutual agreement” for termination of a deal that was scheduled to run through the end of the season.
Panther did not name a driver for later races but IndyCar has six events in six weeks after the Detroit double-header on Saturday and Sunday and likely will look at Briscoe for a longer-term stay in the Chevrolet-powered car.
“He’s a championship-calibre driver who’s proven he can win races on any type of track in the IndyCar series,” team managing partner John Barnes said.
“We have no doubt he can jump right into our program.”
Briscoe, who was 12th last Sunday at Indy driving for Ganassi Racing in a one-race deal, has won seven races in nine IndyCar seasons, most recently last year at Sonoma on a road course, and was last year’s Indy 500 pole sitter.
“I’m unbelievably excited to be back in the IndyCar series,” Briscoe said.
“I’m confident we’ll all work well together and be able to hit the ground running this weekend in Detroit.”
Hildebrand was the 2011 Indy 500 runner-up, leading on the final turn of the last lap before crashing into the outside wall, allowing the late Dan Wheldon of England to pass and win before the wrecked car slid over the finish line.