Sam Hornish Jr. [is] taking a long, hard look at what he wants to do next and whether it includes a risky jump to NASCAR. “It’s safe to say that the challenge of it intrigues me,” Hornish said in the midst of preparations for this week’s Honda 200. After eight years in IRL, he’s itching for something new. Despite his IRL success, Hornish makes no secret of the fact that he’s restless. His agreement with Penske Racing allows him to try some different things. He’s driving in several Busch Series events and is testing himself in other ways. “That’s one of the great things about this deal I have with Roger right now is that we have an opportunity to go either way,” Hornish said. “The best part is that I don’t have to make a decision today or tomorrow. We started off this year knowing that we were going to do 11 to 14 stock-car events, run the whole IndyCar schedule, run the 24 Hours of Daytona, have a whole bunch of different kind of racing thrown in there. We’re going to continue to work on that plan. We’ll sit down at the end of the year when that’s all over with and make a decision on what we’re going to do.”(Associated Press) AND: Hornish refuted the prevailing rumor that he already has made up his mind and that owner Roger Penske will add a third car to his NASCAR team next year for Hornish. “I’d say where I’m at right now, the scales are 50-50,” said Hornish. “I haven’t made any decision; the team hasn’t made a decision.”(Columbus Dispatch)(7-21-2007)
