Penske on Newman: 'There was no issue between the two of us'

WILL GRAVES

The Associated Press

Saturday, Jul. 26, 2008

With Ryan Newman leaving Penske Racing at the end of the season, there has been plenty of speculation about possible replacements in the No. 12 Dodge.

Roger Penske, with his IndyCar team in Edmonton for Saturday's race, said the process to find a new driver for the team's third car has just begun.

"A number of people have called us," Penske said. "We've got options to take a look at."

Penske expects to take the next few weeks going through the process after sitting down with sponsors to discuss driver options, though he stressed he's still focused on helping Newman finish the year strong.

"It would be to the benefit of Ryan, our team, everybody to get him in the Chase," Penske said.

Newman, who will start third on Sunday, has plenty of work to do to get into NASCAR's postseason. The Daytona 500 champion is 16th in the points, 189 behind Denny Hamlin, currently holding down the 12th and final Chase-eligible position.

Former Penske driver Rusty Wallace, now a TV commentator, made some waves earlier this week when he said Newman had been fired. Newman denied it on Friday and Penske followed suit Saturday.

"(Newman) made a decision, we made it together that he'd move on," Penske said. "There was no issue between the two of us. There's some reports that there was and that's not the case."

Newman, who made several jokes at Wallace's expense on Friday, took the high road after being vindicated by Penske.

"The bottom line is what (Wallace) said wasn't true and we'll move on," Newman said.

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