Stremme expected to be Cup test driver for Penske

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- You can expect an announcement this coming week that David Stremme has agreed to join Penske Racing as a test driver for the organization's Sprint Cup program. But is there more here than meets the eye?

Stremme

Team owner Roger Penske has a seat open in one of his Indianapolis 500 entries, and if Penske and current Cup rookie Sam Hornish Jr. agree that Hornish should compete at Indy, where he won the 500 in 2006, that opens up the seat of Penske's No. 77 Dodge, which is currently 33rd in owner points through eight races with Hornish behind the wheel.

Penske's entry blank for the Indy 500 reportedly lists Helio Castroneves in the No. 3 car and Ryan Briscoe in the No. 6, but there's a "TBA" beside the No. 77. It's all speculation at this point, but if Hornish should decide he'd rather run up front in the reunified IndyCar Series (he's a three-time IndyCar champion) than fight to stay on the lead lap in a stock car, Penske would have a test driver -- Stremme -- ready to fill the void.

Stremme, who finished 10th in Friday night's Bashas' Supermarkets 200 Nationwide Series race at Phoenix, already has turned down at least two offers to drive for current Cup teams, Sporting News has learned.