Teamed with veteran Sascha Maassen, Briscoe won three races for Penske and earned a runner-up finish in the P2 championship, leading The Captain to promote Briscoe into his IndyCar operation as Sam Hornish Jr's replacement.

If he’s given the chance to prove himself again in sports cars and possibly earn his way into a fulltime IndyCar ride next year, Briscoe says he’s up to the task.

With Sebring as the next major endurance race on the sports car calendar, Briscoe would like to add his name to the entry list for the first time since 2008. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)

“I love the V8 Supercars; HRT is a top team, and I obviously loved my time with Porsche and Roger in the ALMS,” he said. “I’ve also done a number of Daytona Prototype races at the same time I was racing Indy cars, so the passion for sports cars has always been there. It isn’t an ‘either/or’ scenario for me. If I can do both, that’s perfect. If I need to do just sports cars primarily right now, that’s not something I look at in a negative way at all.

“Frankly, the P2 Porsche, for example, was a perfect fit for an IndyCar driver to jump right into. It was an awesome experience. They both have lots of downforce, even the most recent P2 cars, and the driving style translates directly both ways. The DP cars require a different driving style, but myself, [Ryan] Hunter-Reay, [Sebastien] Bourdais and most of the IndyCar guys have climbed in and been right on the pace. It’s good to know you can do that if you get the call to drive. I have a huge love for that style of racing.”

As one of road racing’s fastest and most accomplished free agents, Briscoe will continue to field sports car and IndyCar inquiries and hopes to fill his calendar as soon as possible.

“Most drivers have been through these ups and downs, so it’s not a shock, but I’m continuing to train and will be 100 percent ready for whatever comes my way,” he said. “I’ve got to remain positive and believe something good is going to happen.”

Marshall Pruett is SPEED.com's Auto Racing Editor, covering IndyCar and sports cars. Now in his 27th year in the sport, Pruett was an open-wheel mechanic, engineer and manager before joining SPEED. He also contributes to RACER, Road & Track and Racecar Engineering. Follow him @MarshallPruett.