AP A.J. Allmendinger will strap back into a stock car this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.
The California native tested an IndyCar for Team Penske at Sebring International Raceway last week, and may be up for at least a part-time run this season for the IZOD IndyCar Series powerhouse. But on Sunday, he’ll be driving the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet in the Subway Fresh Fit 500k at PIR.
It’s the first of four NASCAR Sprint Cup events that Allmendinger will compete in for Phoenix Racing. He’ll also run at Bristol Motor Speedway and Auto Club Speedway (Fontana, Calif.) next month, as well as at Martinsville Speedway in April.
“This will be good,” Allmendinger said in a team release. “It’s been a few months since I’ve been in a stock car. I haven’t been in one of the Gen 6 cars yet, so I think it will take a little time to get acclimated to it. Phoenix International Raceway is a great place for me to get back behind the wheel. I’ve always enjoyed the race track. It will definitely feel different, but I’ll be ready to go.”
After Allmendinger was suspended and subsequently released from his drive at Penske Racing last summer due to failing a drug test, he joined up with Phoenix Racing following his completion of NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program (he was reinstated by NASCAR in mid-September). The former Champ Car standout drove in four of the final six Sprint Cup events of 2012 for the James Finch-led operation.
He has made eight Sprint Cup starts at PIR, with one pole and two top-10 finishes to his credit.
As for Allmendinger’s potential open-wheel duties, he may return for next month’s IndyCar “Spring Training” test sessions at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.
“That’s our goal,” Penske Racing president Tim Cindric said last week to SPEEDTV.com’s Marshall Pruett. “Our goal is to try and put that together. We’re probably a week or two away from knowing whether that’s reality or not. That’s where we’d like to see him next.”
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49ers coach – and IndyCar team co-owner – Jim Harbaugh to drive Indy 500 pace car
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AP
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Reuters
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Adrian Sutil says Force India’s 2013 car is the best he’s had during his F1 career. “I think so, yes,” said Sutil when asked if the VJM06 was better than the other F1 cars he has driven. “Wherever we have gone so far the car has looked competitive – and that includes some very different…
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Reuters
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NBC Sports to feature 19.5 hours of Monaco coverage, with race live on NBC
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For the first time, Formula One’s famed Monaco Grand Prix will air live on network television Sunday, May 26 at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBC. NBC Sports Group will present a total of 19.5 hours of Monaco coverage from Thursday to Sunday, May 23-26, across NBC, NBC Sports Network and NBC Sports Live Extra. Race day, Sunday…
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This year marks the 50-year anniversary of Parnelli Jones’ win in the 1963 Indianapolis 500. Although he’s 79, ‘ol Rufus doesn’t look or sound anywhere near his actual age. NBC Sports Network reporter and IndyCar insider Robin Miller sits down with Parnelli to chat about his seven 500 starts and his place in Indianapolis, and…
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The entry list for the 90th anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans was first revealed in February, with a 56-car grid split between four classes: LMP1, LMP2, GTE Pro and GTE Am. On Tuesday, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) put out the latest update, with the driver lineups for each car all but set.…
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Michael Annett cleared to return after injury suffered at Daytona
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NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett has been cleared to return after he broke his sternum in a crash at Daytona International Speedway to open the season. Annett wrote on Twitter, “Pumped to announce I’ll be making my return to the #43 car this weekend at Charlotte. Can’t wait to get back in the seat!!!”…
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Reuters
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To win the Coca-Cola 600, you have to go through Kasey Kahne. Kahne has threatened to usurp the title of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s master driver from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson with his performance in the nightcap of Memorial Day Sunday. Johnson has more wins in total at the track (six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series…
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Diffey answers Twitter questions ahead of NBC’s live Monaco coverage
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As part of our preparation for NBC’s live broadcast of the Monaco Grand Prix (which you also can watch online), this Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, Leigh Diffey took to our Formula One on NBC Sports Twitter handle (@F1onNBCSports) to answer fan questions ahead of the race. Monaco kicks off the single greatest racing day…
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Helio Castroneves wants a Stingray in his driveway (VIDEO)
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AP
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