AUSSIE BRISCOE ON POLE FOR TEXAS INDY

Australian driver Ryan Briscoe will start from pole in Saturday night's Indy car race at Texas Motor Speedway. Driving for Team Penske, Briscoe recorded a four-lap average speed of 215.273 mph (1 minute, 37.3275 seconds) to earn the PEAK Performance Pole Award for the Firestone 550K race which will be held under lights at the high banked 1.5 mile oval. Dario Franchitti, seeking to be the third consecutive Indianapolis 500 champion to win at Texas in the same year, was 0.0057 of a second off Briscoe's pace. He'll start on the outside of the front row for the 228-lap race under the lights after an average of 215.261 mph. Briscoe's teammate and fellow aussie, Will Power, will be on the second row along with New Zealand's Scott Dixon.

INDYCAR SAYS GOODBYE TO THE V8

Indycar have announced the end of the V8 with it's new engine rules for 2012 and beyond. The new rules stipulate a maximum of six cylinders as well as a 2.4 litre limit. According to the IRL the new engines will produce between 550 and 700 horsepower and will be turbocharged to allow for flexibility in power. "The ICONIC Advisory Committee has researched future engine platforms with manufacturers, teams, drivers and fans, and they felt this strategy best highlights key attributes of the sport - speed, competition and diversity," said Randy Bernard, chief executive officer of the Indy Racing League. "We feel this open and all-inclusive platform will make our sport an attractive option to engine manufacturers, while allowing development of a relevant and innovative platform to the current and future automotive industry by highlighting efficiency, performance, durability, quality, environmental responsibility and safety."

CONWAY CRASH AT INDY 500

WATCH ALMS LAGUNA SECA LIVE (& Free!)

This weekend as Matthew Brabham races to try and maintain his Victorian Formula Ford Championship lead at Sandown, his Le Mans winning Uncle David, will be looking to strengthen his lead in the American Le Mans Series, at the Six hour of Monterey  at Laguna Seca. The Six Hour Race at the famous circuit will be streamed live via the Internet but to receive it you will need to pre-register. Viewing is limited and spots are running out fast. To register go to  www.americanlemans.com/live In Pit Lane is in no way affiliated with either the American Le Mans Series or they're streaming provider read all their conditions of service carefully. Mmm Laguna Seca overnight and Sandown all weekend, no wonder I'm so tired.

KYLE BUMPS JEFF AT RICHMOND

KESELOWSKI CREAMS ‘EM AT RICHMOND

RICHMOND, Va.—After a late caution turned a runaway into a challenge for Brad Keselowski, a late four-tire call proved decisive, as Keselowski stormed to the front from fourth place during a green-white-checkered-flag finish to win Friday night's Bubba Burger 250 Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway. Keselowski, who led 189 of 252 laps, had an advantage of almost two seconds when Paul Menard slammed the Turn 2 wall on Lap 245 of a scheduled 250 at the .75-mile short track. "I'm coming," Keselowski radioed to crew chief Paul Wolfe, steering his car toward pit road for a four-tire stop. Kyle Busch and Justin Allgaier stayed out on old tires, while Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle each took two. Busch led the field to green on Lap 251 with Allgaier beside him, McMurray on the inside of the second row and Keselowski alongside in fourth. Biffle surged forward from the fifth spot, and by the time the cars reached Turn 3 on the next-to-last lap, Keselowski and Biffle had separated themselves from the pack. A lap later, Keselowski passed to the inside and ultimately crossed the finish line .261 seconds ahead of Biffle. McMurray finished third, Busch fourth and Carl Edwards fifth. Keselowski extended his series lead to 59 points over seventh-place finisher Kevin Harvick.

SATO HEADS TO INDYCAR

Popular Japanese Formula One racer Takuma Sato is headed to the Indianapolis 500. Sato will contest the entire  2010 IZOD Indycar Series with the Indianapolis-based team KV Racing Technology, headed by champion driver Jimmy Vasser and Australian business man Kevin Kalkhoven. Sato's move to Indycar will be a huge boost for the struggling series in Japan where Sato remains the country's best known and most popular driver. “This is a very exciting time for me and all my supporters. I have really missed racing last year and can’t wait to get started in this new challenge with such a great team. To me, KV Racing is a team with massive potential and great team spirit." he said.