Updated

Ryan Briscoe will replace the injured James Hinchcliffe in the Indianapolis 500.

Briscoe arrived in Indianapolis on Wednesday, just in time to get fitted for the car, and headed onto the track for the first time Thursday for a familiarization session. The former Indy 500 pole winner will practice in traffic for the first time Friday.

He got a call from team co-owner Sam Schmidt this week after Hinchcliffe was injured in a wreck during practice on Monday. Briscoe was preparing to head to France next week for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but the 33-year-old Australian is a the natural choice to slide into the No. 5 entry for Schmidt Peterson Motorsport.