If the rules were different, Rick Hendrick knows exactly what he'd do. He'd clear out space in one of the buildings on the sprawling Hendrick Motorsports complex north of Charlotte, and have people start building cars for Kasey Kahne for next year. As it is, though, the championship car owner and his new driver are searching for a stopgap solution to get them both to the 2012 season.

Hendrick on Wednesday formally announced that Kahne had signed a multi-year contract with the organization, but one that doesn't put him in a car until 2012. Since NASCAR rules cap team membership at four cars apiece, that leaves Hendrick -- who right now has a full driver roster -- searching for someplace to stable his new hire for next year. Where that is still seems a mystery.

Finding an answer is Hendrick's duty -- it even says so in Kahne's new contract.

"It's my responsibility," Hendrick said Wednesday on a conference call. "I'm not speaking for Kasey, but I wanted this deal so bad because I thought he was just a perfect fit for our company with the talent he has. He's just like the perfect guy for us ... My goal is to put him in the best situation to win races and win a championship. We realize that we've got to do something in '11, but we're going to adhere to the NASCAR policy and do it according to what their rules and regulations are. This was just too good an opportunity to pass up. It's clearly all on my shoulders, and I'm committed to giving him the best opportunity, to put him in the best place that we can come up with."

Come 2012 Kahne will slide into Hendrick's No. 5 car, currently driven by Mark Martin. Hendrick said he approached the 51-year-old stalwart and asked about the possibility of him driving another full-time season beyond the terms of his current contract, which runs through next year. Hendrick said Martin told him he couldn't, opening the door for the 30-year-old Kahne. (Continued)