Penske Racing gives AJ Allmendinger a rare 2nd chance in IndyCar

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – AJ Allmendinger doesn't know why Roger Penske gave him a second chance.

He doesn't ask, either.

All he knows is that he heads to Barber Motorsports Park this weekend in Alabama to make his IndyCar Series debut with an organization that fired him for failing a random drug test last year. It's a tune-up for the Indianapolis 500, the other race Penske has entered Allmendinger in this year.

Allmendinger is grateful for the opportunity. He was suspended by NASCAR last summer for testing positive for a banned substance and he no longer takes anything for granted.