Briscoe Bests Wilson To Take Watkins Glen Pole

Team Penske’s Ryan Briscoe snatched the pole from Newman Haas Lanigan Racing’s Justin Wilson in the final moments of qualifying Saturday at Watkins Glen International Raceway, for Sunday’s Camping World Grand Prix at the Glen. Wilson will start second after coming up just four-hundredths of a second short of what would have been his first IndyCar pole, with Ryan Hunter-Reay qualifying third.

Fastest in practice on Friday, three-time Watkins Glen winner Scott Dixon could do no better than fourth today; while Helio Castroneves, the pole qualifier in all three previous IndyCar races here, will start 26th and last after breaking a throttle cable in the opening moments of qualifying. Sunday’s 60-lap race starts at 3:30 p.m. EDT, with live television coverage on ABC.

Ryan Briscoe (#6 Team Penske Honda) pole qualifier, first pole of 2008 and second career IndyCar pole:
“The track is changing a lot as it gets warmer, but we made some gains overnight with our own setup changes and that allowed us to carry a lot more speed through the corners. This is such a momentum track, so that was the difference for us today. It was great to see Justin [Wilson] right up there with us as well. The [former] Champ Car teams are very strong here, as we expected. This is such a wonderful circuit, one of my favorites in all the world. I’m honored and very proud to be on the pole.”