A.J. Allmendinger came to NASCAR with an impressive resume: Barber Dodge Pro Series champion in 2002, Toyota Atlantic champion in 2003, Champ Car rookie of the year in 2004. The California native has been a winner everywhere he's raced, which is why Red Bull Racing tabbed him to drive one of their Toyotas last season.

The transition from the lighter rear-engine, open-wheel cars to the heavier front-engine stock cars has proven to be a bigger challenge than Allmendinger might have expected. And complicating matters by not having the luxury of a guaranteed starting spot every week has added enormous pressure on the shoulders of the 26-year-old.

Having to qualify on time every week, Allmendinger still made 17 of 36 races last season, with a best finish of 15th at Lowe's Motor Speedway in October. However, he failed to make the starting field for any of the first three races in 2008, prompting Red Bull Racing general manager Jay Frye to put veteran Mike Skinner in the car, beginning at Atlanta.

Allmendinger spoke candidly about his current status -- and his racing future -- during an interview session with reporters Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Q: What prompted Red Bull Racing to take you out of the car temporarily and replace you with Mike Skinner?

Allmendinger: It has been a hard situation since last year. When we started -- the 84 team -- we've been kind of put under the gun and we've had to fight through a lot. This year just hasn't happened the way we expected. Testing went well. I've been comfortable in the car. One lap could have made all of the difference in the world. One more lap at the Duels in Daytona and we probably would have been in the race. Then it rains at Fontana and who knows what is going to happen in Vegas.

It is what it is. It didn't happen and I think it comes down to ... the team just needs a little bit of change and something good to happen for them. Mike obviously has the experience level to kind of jump in and see where exactly the car is at. To see what we need to work on and for me as a driver I can follow Mike around and just learn everything I can, which is what I'm going to do. As you said, I don't like not being in the racecar but it is just a short change because Mike is just going to run how many ever races to find out what is wrong, and hopefully more than anything to get the car close to the top 35 and if not in because as a team we've been doing this for so long.

Every Friday we've shown up hating life and praying that you get the car in the race and it's hard. Fortunately, I know that if we are in the top 35 we are never going to fall out of it because I'm going to race a lot better than I qualify. We just keep missing a little bit on qualifying and it's so close when you do that. You don't get in the show and everything kind of spirals down. It is a change for right now to get out there and see where it is at. Mike can obviously qualify the heck out of the car. He is going to do a good job and just kind of see where we are at, at that point.

Q: With the reunification of open-wheel, what are the chances that you would leave NASCAR to return to that form of racing?

Allmendinger: I know I have the ability and the confidence that I can do this. In Phoenix we were one of the fastest cars. We know in this sport that it comes down to equipment. I really feel like the team and I gel really great together. I love my guys. Ricky Viers is the crew chief. I think it might be different.

I was sitting here at first going 'I don't know if I can do this,' but I've shown in good equipment that I can run up front so there is no reason to want to leave. We just have to get the ship turned right. Mike is going to help us do that. Like I said, I have the confidence that I can drive anything and I know I can. If we can get this thing right we can go and win races and be up front. There is no reason to leave. (Continued)