Stewart: Third car at SHR 'not very likely' for 2010

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Time is running out on a potential third team at Stewart-Haas Racing for next season.

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Driver and team owner Tony Stewart didn't sound optimistic when asked Friday about the likelihood of the Stewart-Haas operation expanding to a third car for 2010. A number of prominent drivers, ranging from NASCAR race winner Brad Keselowski to struggling Richard Childress Racing driver Kevin Harvick to open-wheel starlet Danica Patrick, have been mentioned as potential candidates for a third car at Stewart-Haas. But Stewart said it's getting late in the season to pull that off.

"I don't think we've ruled that out yet, but it's getting to the point of the season where if we're going to do a third team, have a third team for next season, it would have to happen pretty quickly," Stewart said at Watkins Glen International. "At least having the sponsor and driver lined up to make sure we have an adequate amount of time to get all the tools and pieces in place for next year. But I would say it's not very likely."

Stewart-Haas was formed late last season when Stewart assumed ownership of half an existing Haas CNC operation that struggled just to make races. This year, Stewart and teammate Ryan Newman are both on track to qualify for NASCAR's year-end playoff. Stewart said the team was designed with possible expansion in mind.

"The building is capable of holding three teams, for sure. That's not a problem," he said. "It's just adding people and making sure that the funding is in place. It would be adding a little more equipment, adding a little more people. But having that funding is the biggest key, and the driver."