Briscoe to make oval racing return

Briscoe has been confirmed as replacing regular driver Buddy Lazier in the Number 5 car for the oval races at Nashville and Milwaukee and the road course race Sears' Point.

It will be the first time Briscoe returns to an oval competition since his large accident at Chicago in September of last year.

Briscoe impressed the team when he subbed for Lazier at the Watkins Glen road course race back in June, finishing third.

"I'm very excited to get back in the car for the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team, especially with the success we had together in Watkins Glen earlier this year," said Briscoe.

Former champion Lazier's future at the team is uncertain, with team officials admitting that they want to try different things for the rest of the season with a view to 2007.

Lazier's results in his seven races this season have not been sensational, with his best finish of 12th coming in May's Indianapolis 500.

"We are putting Ryan in the car after he did a great job for us at Watkins Glen earlier this year," said co-owner Dennis Reinbold. "At this point and time, we are working towards building for the 2007 season.

"With this in mind, we want to try different things with our team during the remainder of the season to see what we can learn for the future.  Buddy is the ultimate professional and did a great job for us this year.  We will certainly continue to consider him for the future."