Penske eyes Wease

Penske isn't ready to name Wallace's replacement, but he's clearly thinking a few years ahead now. Last weekend, Penske arrived at Wisconsin State Fair Park a day ahead of the Indy-car race to watch 18-year-old Billy Wease, Noblesville, Ind., race in USAC's midget division.

Wease, who finished third, has quietly been testing with Penske's drivers since December. He recently tested a Cup car at Kentucky Speedway in conjunction with Ryan Newman, who recommended him to Penske.

Wease also ran more than 500 laps recently at North Carolina Speedway and tested a Busch Series car at Chicagoland Speedway. He has driven well, though he's not ready to replace Wallace.

"We're doing a lot of testing with him in Cup cars, and Ryan is really high on him," said Penske, who is clearly keen on Wease, too. "We want to get him moved down south, to Charlotte, and get him enrolled (in college). I'd like to get him in a stock car (race) pretty soon."

Wease, who recently graduated from Noblesville High School, is certainly agreeable.

"They've been really fair with me, and I'll do whatever they ask of me," said Wease, who Monday drove his pickup truck carrying his belongings to North Carolina. More at Indy Star