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Wheldon heading to NASCAR?

Kansas City, KS - June 14, 2006
By: Kirk Elliott

Dan Wheldon wouldn't comment directly about reports he would be switching to NASCAR next season, but did say he would consider driving stock cars sometime in the future. Wheldon, the 2005 Indianapolis 500 champion, spoke to reporters Tuesday during IndyCar testing at Kanasas Speedway. "It's certainly something that intrigues me," said Wheldon. "Everybody knows I went to some of the races last year to look and to see what it was all about. The one thing that does appeal to me is the schedule. I don't have a family or other commitments. All I love to do is be in the race car. Would I be good? Yes, but it would take awhile."

Wheldon said it would have to be an owner who knows his ability and would be willing to give him the proper time to perform. "Right now, I'd Love to win another Indianapolis 500 for Chip (Ganassi), and so far I haven't done the job I need to do for him." There's been much speculation in the past two days that Wheldon would be tabbed for the Number 42 Texaco Dodge that Casey Mears currently drives for Chip Ganassi. Mears announced over the weekend he would be leaving Ganassi at the end of the season to pursue other opportunities. Many around the NASCAR Nextel Cup garage believe Mears is heading to Hendrick Motorsports. Brian Vickers will be stepping out of the 25 for what he hopes is another ride in Nextel Cup.

18 IRL drivers took laps at Kansas Speedway on Tuesday. Team Penske pilots Helio Castronevs and Sam Hornish, Jr. as well as the Target Chip Ganassi cars of Wheldon and Scott Dixon led the way, while Andretti-Green's Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Bryan Herta, and Dario Franchitti were attempting to elevate their program. Struggling to find speed was the Rahal-Letterman group, which just switched from Panoz to Dallara chassis. "We are having some problems with the car," Danica Patrick said following the morning session. "I haven't been able to hold my foot down at all, but the engineers are working really hard to try and figure out what's wrong with it."

The series will be at the three-quarter mile at Richmond,Virgina on June 24 before the Kansas Lottery Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway on July 2. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O'Reilly 250 and the ARCA RE/MAX Series Kansas Lottery $200 Grand will be staged on Saturday, July 1. Tickets for both days are still available. Log on to: www.kansasspeedway.com