His opportunity appears to be in IndyCar.
Allmendinger will test an IndyCar for Penske at Sebring, Fla., on Feb. 19, with an eye on running the Indianapolis 500 for the storied organization. He was at Penske Racing on Thursday having a seat fit in an IndyCar.
"Roger is one of the most loyal owners you will ever know, and I think his loyalty has come into play in this case," Penske President Tim Cindric said. "AJ is obviously talented and when you look at the circumstances and how he handled the circumstances, well, he made a mistake. But he's a talented guy and someone who has shown what he can do in an IndyCar.
"We are in the racing business, and AJ has gone through the process required for him and as far as we are concerned the slate is wiped clean."
Allmendinger was suspended by NASCAR hours before the July race at Daytona for failing a random drug test. He asked to have his backup "B" sample tested, and was released by Penske Racing on Aug. 1 when those results also came back positive for a banned substance.
Allmendinger completed NASCAR's "Road to Recovery" program and was reinstated in September. The Penske organization had already moved on without him in NASCAR, but is willing to give him a shot in IndyCar. (SI/AP)
