Penske Racing is giving A.J. Allmendinger a big time 2nd chance. After his drug suspension forced team owner Roger Penske to fire him from the No. 22 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride in 2012, Allmendinger has landed on his feet with the team in a part-time Izod IndyCar schedule. This will give Allmendinger the coveted opportunity to run in May's Indy 500 and it all starts Sunday at Birmingham, Alabama's Barber Motorsports Park.
Allmendinger has superstar Indy teammates in Helio Castroneves and Will Power. Power has finished 2nd in points the last three IndyCar seasons, losing the points lead each year in the last race. So Allmendinger has not only experienced racers to lean on, but also men with varied challenges in life (Power's racing strife and Castroneves' tax fiasco a few years back).
Both Power and Allmendinger stopped by to talk to News/Talk WSB about A.J.'s move to IndyCar, the pressure to win, how physically demanding IndyCar racing is, Danica-mania, and what to expect from Penske Racing at Barber - a race Power won last year.