If Sam Hornish stays true to form, trusting team owner Roger Penske to all but make career decisions for him, the three-time Indy Racing League champion will be announced on Saturday night in Phoenix as the new third driver for Penske’s Nextel Cup team. Though Penske said Sunday a final decision would be made in next few days, he smiled, adding, “My inclination would be to go with him.”
Penske said if Hornish goes to NASCAR, former IRL driver Ryan Briscoe, who has tested Indy cars for Penske, would move from the organization’s American Le Mans Series unit to team with Helio Castroneves. “Our goal from the beginning was to see if Sam wanted to run in this type of series,” Penske said. “Number two was to be able to conclude a project with a major sponsor.” With both conditions apparently answered to his satisfaction, Penske said it was not of concern that Hornish had failed to qualify in six attempts at his first Cup race and has an average finish of 31.6 in nine Busch series starts.
Hornish will attempt both series, Penske said, in the final two weekends at Phoenix and Homestead. Penske could guarantee Hornish entry into the first six races of the 2008 season by applying teammate Kurt Busch’s 2007 owner points to his car. Busch would be assured entry into races with a past champion’s provisional if he failed to qualify on speed.
Bookmark to:
- Hornish almost certain to make move to NASCAR
- Hornish Looks to Run ARCA and Busch, Make Cup Move by 2008?
- Penske adds a race for Hornish
- Penske may transfer points from Busch to Hornish in 2008
- Sam Hornish becomes a father
I wish Hornish well in his NASCAR endeavors. If it doesn’t work out, he could always drive a Penske Porsche in the American Le Mans Series or add him as a third driver for the endurance races.