Team owner Roger Penske said he will meet with suspended driver AJ Allmendinger this week to discuss how they move forward as an organization. Allmendinger was suspended indefinitely on Tuesday after his second urine sample confirmed the first sample that tested positive for amphetamines earlier this month. The 30-year-old driver has enrolled in NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program that typically takes 4-5 months to be eligible for reinstatement, meaning his 2012 season is for all intents and purposes over. Penske said Sunday that he has released Penske Racing employees that have failed the company testing program in the past. He said the difference with Allmendinger is he’s an independent contractor who was tested by NASCAR, not the organization, and sponsors are involved. Penske declined to comment on whether there was any possibility Allmendinger would return to the #22 Shell Pennzoil Dodge [Ford next season] in 2013. ‘ ‘There are so many questions: does he keep the ride or not?’ Penske said before the Brickyard 400. ‘We don ‘t know when he’s going to be back. We have sponsor obligations. There’s lots of things happening. At this point, from my perspective, I have a very open mind, but I want to sit down face to face with him to determine what’s the best thing for the team, what’s the best thing for him. We have a lot invested in him. I want to see him land on his feet. I ‘ve got to look at things from the overall standpoint.’ Penske said Sam Hornish Jr., who will be in the car on Sunday at Indianapolis as well as next week at Pocono, likely will remain the driver for most of season moving forward for the sake of continuity with the team and sponsor. Penske said there are a couple of races where Hornish already was scheduled to be in a third Penske Cup car that will factor into plans. He said those races might be used to try out another driver potentially for next season, reminding his phone has rung off the hook from drivers looking for rides. Penske said he has talked to Allmendinger almost every day to ‘try to keep his spirits up.'(ESPN)(7-30-2012)
