Brazilian drivers mourn World Cup loss

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) -He shoots, he scores!

Just like that, Brazil was eliminated Friday by Netherlands at the World Cup, making it an unhappy day in the hospitality tent at Watkins Glen International where all six Brazilian IndyCar drivers reacted to Wesley Sneijder's decisive goal with dismay.

“It's sad to be away from my home country, but at least we have a little bit of Brazil here at the racetrack,” said Helio Castroneves, who was second-fastest behind Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe in Friday's lone practice session at The Glen. “And we're all together.”

The drivers each supported the home team by playing vuvuzelas, the plastic horns that have created a buzz at the soccer tournament in South Africa, and Castroneves and Mario Romancini wore Brazil jerseys.

“As a culture, that's what we grew up watching - soccer and racing - so it's a big deal,” said Andretti Autosport's Tony Kanaan. “We lost a game today, so I'm wearing black.”

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PENSKE PROWESS: Team Penske has won the pole position at all five previous IndyCar Series races at Watkins Glen and is poised to add another.

Ryan Briscoe, who has won the past two poles at Watkins Glen International, turned the fastest lap in Friday's lone practice session, averaging 132.714 mph while covering the 11-turn, 3.4-mile course in 1 minute, 31.4 seconds.

Teammate Helio Castroneves, who won three straight poles at Watkins Glen (2005-07) was second, followed by three-time Watkins Glen winner Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and defending race winner Justin Wilson.

“I'd like to keep things going the way we had it last year,” said Briscoe, who is fifth in the IndyCar standings 34 points behind teammate Will Power's series-leading 274 points. “We ended up with pole and ran second in the race. I'd just like to see myself in contention for the win.”

Penske also is riding a record streak of seven straight poles: Power has won four, Briscoe two and Castroneves one.

Penske's success at Watkins Glen dates to the old CART series. Bobby Unser earned victories for the team in 1979 and 1980, while current Team Penske adviser, Rick Mears, won in 1981.

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WILSON'S QUEST: A year ago, Justin Wilson pulled off a surprising and dominant win at Watkins Glen, leading 49 of 60 laps and giving Dale Coyne Racing its first visit to Victory Lane in a quarter century.

The triumph came in Coyne's 558th entry since 1984 as a driver-owner, but the two have since parted ways. Driving now for Dreyer&Reinbold Racing, Wilson is ready for an encore performance - his new team hasn't won in a decade.

“It meant a lot to me to get his (Coyne's) first victory in 25 years. That was part of it that made the whole thing special,” Wilson said. “I'm trying to make my car as good as what we had with his car.”

After one practice, Wilson wasn't far off. He was fifth on Friday, just 0.448 seconds behind pacesetter Ryan Briscoe.

“I want to get that balance back to how it was last year,” Wilson said. “The competition level is so intense in this series. To come back and be the guy that everyone's looking at, I want to win it again, back it up.”