Catchfence

Last Thursday on SPEED’s NASCAR Race Hub, SMI Chairman Bruton Smith tossed out the idea of creating some buzz around working with his counterparts at IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to create an incentive for racers to participate in both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, even suggesting the idea of a $20 million bonus for a driver who could pull off “the double.”

While names like Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya and Danica Patrick were instantly thrown into the mix of drivers best positioned to compete for wins in both disciplines, a caller to SPEED’s weekly show, Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain, threw an interesting name into the mix – offering that “Brad Keselowski is the guy who could go do that. He’s driving for Roger Penske. Who better if you are looking for an IndyCar deal?”

Keselowski, a guest on Sunday’s Wind Tunnel, said the possibility is something that has him very excited:

Keselowski’s Wind Tunnel quotes on possibility of racing at Indy in the future:

“I think (the caller) read my mind. I mean as soon as it came out — it was kind of funny — I was doing an appearance with Sam Hornish Jr., and as soon as it came out, I picked Sam Hornish’s brain for about a half hour on what it took to win Indy. And I left that conversation thinking the second I feel like my Cup cars are capable of winning the Coca-Cola 600, I’m going to come calling to Roger to see if I can get a (Indy 500) ride.

“Absolutely, the only drivers who could do it are Penske drivers. The crossover between Ganassi – he’s got the whole Chevrolet deal over there – I don’t think they’d ever let him do it. But Dodge seems to be really cool with us. They let us do what we want to do and I really respect them for that. The second I feel like I have the opportunity and cars and team capable of winning the 600, absolutely I am going to ask Roger if I can do it.

“I would say the idea worked just from that standpoint. I’d love to do it. The thing is, and although it might be somewhat controversial to say, even though I am from the Midwest, and have a lot of appreciation for Indy, quite honestly I think the 600 is harder to win. I might be a little biased being a stock car guy, but if there is one team to do it for, it’s Penske Racing, and I’d love to do it … so I hope you are listening, Roger.”

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- SPEEDTV.com, Press Release