| | Associated Press
HAMPTON, Ga. -- In another step toward improving relations between the rival open-wheel factions, CART owner Roger Penske will rent a car from an Indy Racing League team to run a test this month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Penske drivers Gil de Ferran and Helio Castroneves will test an Aurora G-Force car owned by Fred Treadway of the IRL, according to Treadway spokeswoman Ruthie Culbertson -- the strongest signal yet that Penske intends to enter the 500 next year.
The test is scheduled for July 26-27.
Championship Auto Racing Teams boycotted the Indy 500 after speedway president Tony George formed the rival IRL in 1996. But CART left an opening on its schedule this year, allowing Chip Ganassi's team to enter the 500.
Ganassi driver Juan Montoya, the defending CART champion, became the first rookie in more than three decades to win at Indy. Teammate Jimmy Vasser finished seventh in the May race.
"I don't know what (the Penske test) means," Treadway told the Indianapolis Star. "He said he wanted a chance to run his guys there, and that's what he's going to do. I'm glad we could help. The rest is up to him."
The testing deal is payback for Penske's financial help in sponsoring a Treadway car at the 500. The Penske-owned United Auto Group sponsored a car driven by Jason Leffler, who races regularly on the NASCAR Busch Grand National circuit. Leffler finished 17th at Indy.
Penske could not immediately be reached for comment. The CART circuit is in Toronto this weekend.
Treadway had two drivers, Robby McGehee and Shigeaki Hattori, in Saturday night's Midas 500 Classic, an IRL race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. | |
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