Penske making excuses for Hornish

Team owner Roger Penske says his gut tells him he wants to move Indy Racing League driver Sam Hornish from the Indy Racing League to NASCAR Sprint Cup racing next season. Hornish failed to qualify for the Sylvania 300 today at New Hampshire International Speedway and is scheduled to run at least four more races this year (all car of tomorrow events).

"We'd like to go," Penske said. "We're going to look at the facts, but be honest with him and be honest with the team.

"He practiced well. He had a couple of good tests. We're sure disappointed he didn't make it, but we didn't make the Indy 500 in '95, and we're still here. So don't cut your wrists."

The three-time IRL champion will have to get into the races on speed the rest of the year.

"The discussion with him was, 'Don't overdrive it in qualifying,'" Penske said Sunday at NHIS. "I think that he probably didn't realize that he is probably going to have to over-drive it in order to get in.

"That's part of the learning curve. We're on our plan. We said we would run him five or six races until the year. That way, he could make a personal decision if this is what he wants to do and then we'll make a move. The good news is we have some flexibility."

Penske said there is a chance that Hornish could be entered in another race after he missing NHIS.

"Every bit of track time he can get will only make him better if he runs," Penske said. Scenedaily.com

[Editor's Note: How many times do we have to say that we don't rate Hornish whatsoever. All his IRL wins were on 100% throttle tracks, which take no talent. Now in NASCAR he has to actually drive the car (i.e. feather the throttle, brake, slide the car) and the results to date speak for themselves. His results on the IRL road courses also speak for themselves.]