Sports

Briscoe Sets Record But Franchitti Reaps Reward

Five of the top six qualifiers will be penalized 10 starting positions because of an engine change. Dario Franchitti and rookie Josef Newgarden will start on the front row.

Ryan Briscoe turned in a record qualifying lap when it counted on Saturday to win the point that comes with the pole position in the IZOD IndyCar Series, but the man starting in the prime location on the grid is someone just looking for a chance to turn his season around.

And the guy starting next to him carries the hopes of underdogs anywhere.

Dario Franchitti will start on the pole when the 38th Grand Prix of Long Beach commences Sunday afternoon. Alongside him will be Josef Newgarden, an American driver despite the spelling of his first name.

Find out what's happening in Belmont Shore-Napleswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In fact, it's an all-Tennessee first row. Scotsman Franchitti lives there with actress wife Ashley Judd in Franklin, just outside of Nashville; Newgarden, 21, is the youngest driver in the field and is a native of the music city.

Briscoe traded the fastest time with Team Penske teammate Will Power four times in the last two minutes of the 10-minute Fast Six qualifying, but they are penalized 10 starting positions on the grid because of an unauthorized engine change.

Find out what's happening in Belmont Shore-Napleswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Drivers using Chevrolet power occupied five of the top six qualifying positions but will drop outside the top 10 when the green flag drops on the 85-lap race.

"It bites," Briscoe said of the penalty after setting a track record on the 11-turn, 1.698 street circuit in 1 minute 8.6089 seconds.

Briscoe was followed, in order, by Power, 2010 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, Franchitti, E.J. Viso and James Hinchcliffe.

"Qualifying was everything because you didn't want to be starting 15th or 16th," Power said. "Days like tomorrow will end up being really important for the championship, just trying to get as many points as possible and work hard at strategy." 

Franchitti and Newgarden represent poloar opposites of the IndyCar Series. Franchitti has won three series championships including the last two in a row, and drives for powerful Target Chip Ganassi Racing.

Newgarden drives for the unsponsored Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing team, which competes on a shoestring and a prayer. Still, he's positioned to pull off a monster upset for the little guy since Long Beach is known to be a tough place to pass on track.

"We're here by default," Newgarden said Sunday, after the six drivers who finished ahead of him left the interview room.

Franchitti had no worries about Newgarden starting alongside him.

"He'll be fine," Franchitti said. "Believe we, we have proven time and again whether you are a rookie or a veteran you can screw it up just as well."

With all 11 Chevrolet teams penalized 10 positions on the starting grid, the stage could be set for a wild day with the fastest cars starting outside the top 10.

Roger Penske's Chevrolet-powered drivers won the first two races, Helio Castroneves in St. Petersburg and Power at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama.

Even though Franchitti's teammate at Target Chip Ganassi Racing has finished second in the first two races, Franchitti hasn't been as sharp. He started ninth but dropped three positions and finished 13th in the opener after funning out of fuel on the last lap. Two weeks ago, he finished 10th after starting 18th.

This might be the opportunity for Franchitti, 38, to kick-start another title run. He has won three of the last four championships, including 2008 for team owner Michael Andretti. The year he didn't win, 2009, was spent in NASCAR.

Dixon will start on the third row alongside Takuma Sato.

Row two will be comprised of Justin Wilson, who qualified ninth on speed, and Simon Pagenaud, who was 11th before the Chevys were penalized.

Wilson, from England, is another underdog who could be a factor. He's hoping to give team owner Dale Coyne his second Indycar victory.

The third engine manufacturer, Lotus, will have one driver in the top 10. Alex Tagliani, who qualified 20th on time, will start 10th for Valencia, Calif., team owner Bryan Herta.

Schedule for the rest of the weekend

Sunday, April 15

7 a.m. - Gates open
8 a.m. - FIL Practice
8:25 a.m. - PWC Qualifying
9:15 a.m. - IndyCar Practice
10:45 a.m. - Firestone Indy Lights Race
12:30 p.m. - IndyCar Pre-Race Ceremonies
1:15 p.m. (Approx.) - Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach IZOD IndyCar Series Race (85 laps)
3:40 p.m. - Team Drifting Challenge
4:15 p.m. - Pirelli World Challenge Race (1 hour)


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Belmont Shore-Naples