Penske stands strong with Hornish as he starts over (cont'd)

"From the go-kart ranks to the open-wheel ranks, it's just a different school where you use different terminology," Busch says. "So I'm hoping to be able to draw analogies from open-wheel racing and translate it into stock-car lingo and help make it work for him.

"It's like being an American League designated hitter and having to go over to the National League and find a position you have to play. I think we painted the best picture we could for him about how difficult this would be. But it's tough to grasp that; it's tough to realize that. He's a three-time IRL champion and he's been a winner in everything he's jumped in. This is going to take a little bit of an extra effort and some extra nights where he won't sleep, but eventually he'll be fine."

In some ways, Hornish said it is like being 11 years old again and going to that asphalt track in Rockingham -- not knowing what the heck he is doing half the time, but remaining confident in his ability to eventually figure it out. But in other ways, he knows that it is very different this time.

"It's like that, except now instead of just being another local track champion you're the three-time IRL champion and former IndyCar Series champion and a whole lot of people expect a lot more out of you," Hornish said. "To be honest with you, all the go-karting I did is really a good basic place to start if you're going to go into Indy cars. The cars have so much grip and not a whole lot of horsepower, and so it's a lot about momentum in so many ways. It's not a lot about tire management. The engine is even in the back.

"So this is all totally different. It's like, 'Take everything you've learned in the last 15 years of your career and throw it all out the window -- because what worked in one car doesn't work in the other.'"

Hornish already has secured a hallowed position in the Penske Museum with his winning Indy 500 car. More time will be required to determine if he can accomplish something of similar scope in his new job.

If it happens, Roger Penske himself no doubt will welcome a few more stock cars into his museum that currently is dominated by open-wheel vehicles. In fact, it is obvious that Penske expects it. He's not into backing losing propositions.

"This is a tough series. There's no question about it," Penske says. "But we think Sam will be up to the challenge."