Rick Hendrick says Mark Martin will return to No. 5 car in 2011 – for now
Rick Hendrick says he still plans for Mark Martin to drive his No. 5 car next year. // Chuck Yadmark, NASCAR Illustrated
INDIANAPOLIS – Rick Hendrick is leaving all options open for driver Kasey Kahne in 2011, but says his plan – right now – is for Mark Martin to return to the No. 5 car next year.
Martin has insisted that he will be back in the No. 5 car next year but garage speculation continues that Kahne, who is signed with Hendrick to replace Martin in 2012, could take over that ride after this season. Being in limbo has not frustrated Kahne as much as Martin, who has grown weary of the speculation and been adamant that he will return to the team next year.
“We have a deal with Mark, and we’re going to honor that,” Hendrick said prior to the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “We want to honor that. Kasey’s known that. That’s kind of where we are.
“[But] as soon as I tell you there’s no way, [it changes], but right now it’s his seat and it’s his car. I’ve told you guys before that you just never know what could happen. I’m saying right now it is his seat and his ride and we haven’t changed our plans or our ideas in any way since the announcement started [in April].”
ESPN analyst Ray Evernham predicted on Friday that Martin eventually would decide to step out of the car so Kahne can drive it in 2011. Hendrick said that wasn’t Evernham trying to do his dirty work.
“I don’t need anybody to do any dirty work for me,” Hendrick said. “If I have anything I want done, I’ll go to the people. I won’t have anybody else do it or speaking for me. Mark has made a heck of a contribution to our organization’s path and still is, so I wish Mark would drive four or five more years.”
Hendrick said all options are open as far as which team or manufacturer Kahne might drive for next year. NASCAR has a four-team limit, and Hendrick currently has no room for Kahne in 2011.
“I’m keeping all options open, whether it’s a Chevrolet or something else,” Hendrick said. “I’m trying to make everybody – all our sponsors, NASCAR, the whole deal. If it wasn’t for NASCAR, it would be real easy for me. I’d have five teams next year and I wouldn’t be going through all this.”
Finding a ride for Kahne – who is under contract with Hendrick for next year but has no ride with the organization until 2012 – has proven more difficult than Hendrick anticipated.
“You have sponsors that are conflicted, and even though I’m not involved, Kasey is coming to us in a year,” Hendrick said. “So some of our sponsors are sensitive and some of the people that want to be involved can’t be involved for over a year.
“It has been more complicated. … Kasey has got to race and win races, and we don’t want to distract him, you guys want to know what’s going on, Mark is tired of you asking him questions and I’m probably the guy holding it all up. I just want to make sure I do the right thing, and I’ll look at all the different [options].”
