Grapevine: Sarah Fisher comeback now unlikely

Briscoe - who recently replaced Buddy Lazier in the D&R seat - has clashing V8 Supercar commitments at three of the remaining four IRL races, and team owner Dennis Reinbold had hinted that former driver Fisher might take his place.

But Reinbold told indycar.com that such a move now seems unlikely.

"Last week I would have told you that we would have a pretty good chance at getting something together," said Reinbold.

"As of now, it doesn't look very positive. Our whole contingency on that was that we needed to put a budget together for the three races that we have remaining where Ryan isn't going to drive for us.

"We had talked to Sarah about that possibility and things gained some momentum and that momentum pretty much went away.

"At this point in time, I don't know, but it looks pretty doubtful I would say. Beyond this weekend and Sonoma (where Briscoe is available), I really don't know what we are going to do in the future."

With the spotlight back on Danica Patrick during the speculation about her 2007 plans, the return of another female racer would have been a major story for the IRL.

Fisher became the first woman to start on pole for an IndyCar race when she took Dreyer & Reinbold to the position at Kentucky in 2002.

Despite being one of the most populars drivers in the IRL, Fisher always struggled to find the budget for a full season and has not competed in the series since driving for Kelley Racing at the 2004 Indianapolis 500.