Ryan Briscoe obviously likes Long Beach. He was on the IndyCar pole last year with Penske Racing and now – 12 months later – he scored the P2 pole today for Level 5 Motorsport.

Now confirmed for the full season of ALMS competition, the Australian dominated the class putting several PC class cars between himself and the competition.

ESM’s Scott Sharp and Johannes van Overbeek led the chase in second and third place.

Briscoe will team with Scott Tucker tomorrow in search for back-to-back series wins for Level 5. Tucker – as usual – will drive both team cars with Marino Franchitti at the wheel of the team’s second car.

The trio will also form the team’s line-up for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“It was a good effort by the whole team,” Briscoe said.

“Certainly very different track conditions from when we ran. We didn’t have any data to go by from last year because all practice and qualifying was rained out. We’re kind of blindfolded going in.

“The team did a good job. The car did good for qualifying. I felt like we’re going to be able to work on it and be good for the race. It was good to separate our car from the other P2 cars and put the PC cars between us as a buffer.

“I am excited for that and hopefully we can keep our nose clean and make it to the end. Track position is key for sure, its going to be a tough race. Speeds are so close with all the GT cars and the PC cars.

“We’ll be fighting all day with cars that won’t even be in our class. So tomorrow will be about who can deal with the traffic best, not get in trouble, no penalties, and not putting damage to the car. It will be tough work. You’ve got to be decisive in your moves, it’s a fine line, but that’s what we get paid to do.”