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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP)-A shift to the ovals meant a shift in power in the IndyCar Series.

One of the last drivers of the day, Australian Ryan Briscoe was the fastest qualifier at Kansas Speedway on Friday, ending Will Power's bid for a record-tying fourth consecutive pole.

Power has been the driver to beat on the IndyCar Series this season, winning two of four races, earning three consecutive poles.

Watching from across the garage, Ryan Briscoe was stewing, waiting for his chance to snatch the spotlight away from his Team Penske teammate.

The Australian took away at least some of the sting with the fastest qualifying speed -- a four-lap average of 212.145 mph and will start on the front row Saturday with defending champion Scott Dixon in the 300-mile race on the 1 1/2 -mile oval.

Defending series champion Dario Franchitti will start on the second row with Hideki Mutoh, who moved up after Dan Wheldon's time was disallowed for driving under the white line. Heavy rain and hail washed out the early practice session and pushed back the second, leaving drivers an hour of prep time before qualifying.

 

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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (AP) -- Will Power will start the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama up front, the same place he's been finishing lately.

Power has won the first two IndyCar Series races this season. He grabbed the pole on Saturday with a speed of 118.057 mph (189.99 kph). Penske Racing teammate Helio Castroneves (117.186 mph; 188.58 kph) was third, behind Mike Conway (117.197 mph; 188.6 kph).

Power understands how difficult it is to win a race, but he's making it look easy. He will start on the pole for the second straight race in Sunday's inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park.

The Australian is trying to become the first driver to win the opening three IndyCar races. Power also has a chance to join Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Kenny Brack as the only IndyCar drivers to win three in a row.

He topped both Friday practice rounds and turned in the fastest lap time in the final round of qualifying.

 

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- There was a lot of buzz in the St. Petersburg paddock Friday about the new cars that the IndyCar series is supposed to introduce in 2012.

New IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard formed an advisory committee to "review, research and make recommendations" for the new chassis and engine packages. This week retired Air Force General William Looney III was named the committee's chairman. And Friday, former Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran -- now co-owner of Luczo Dragon Racing/de Ferran Motorsports -- was voted in as the team owner representative. Further members of the group will be announced in the next week.

Target Ganassi principal Chip Ganassi, shown in the photo, has been a part of the futuristic-looking Delta Wing project -- a concept version of several chassis ideas tossed into the ring.

"It doesn't have to look like that, it's just a concept,'' Ganassi said Friday. "We want to see the whole thing get better and the way we want to see it get better is get more manufacturers involved, more car builders in it.

"We think if you had a simpler car that was less expensive to operate but still raced as good, a little greener car. .... you can have all the above and still have a good racing series.

"As far as I'm concerned, all the car manufacturers can build that car. I don't want Delta Wing to be a car builder. How we'd like to see it is a greener car, something more relevant to the car industry, something safer, something that's iconic, something with the same speeds, but something that identifies it, so people know what it is when they see it.''

For the most part, the drivers have reserved strong judgment on the proposed cars.

Former series champ Dan Wheldon said he's not concerned about giving input.

"I'm just going to drive what they give me and at the end of the day everyone is going to do what's best for the sport,'' said Wheldon, who drives the Panther Racing No. 4 National Guard-sponsored Honda.

"I think Randy (Bernard) will surround himself by the right people to make the right decision for the sport.''

 

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Filed under: IRL, Danica Patrick

The joke goes -- in several variations -- that if former Professional Bull Riders CEO Randy Bernard can hang on more than 8-seconds in his new job as CEO of theIZOD IndyCar Series, he will have some serious potential.

He grabbed the IndyCar reins officially March 1 and gets his first true ride this weekend as the series opens Sunday in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Loaded with Brazilian drivers, sponsored by many Brazilian companies in a country that adores auto racing, it's fair to say the IndyCar series will get a larger and warmer reception in Sao Paulo this weekend than at many other stops on its expanded 17-race schedule.

And that goes to the heart of Bernard's greatest and most pressing challenge: Promotion! Promotion! Promotion!

Now unified as the country's premier open-wheel circuit, the IZOD IndyCar Series has exciting racing, close finishes and the top championship dramas of any major racing series.

But it's the best racing show people aren't watching enough of.

 

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