A BATHURST 1000 wildcard entry featuring his IndyCar drivers might not be on the mind of Roger Penske, but the Supercars team boss still has the utmost respect for the Great Race.
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Amongst the 26-car grid for this year's Bathurst 1000 was the Walkinshaw Andretti United wildcard Holden Commodore shared by IndyCar stars Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe.
While Penske revealed fellow team owner Michael Andretti had discussed with him the possibility of having Australian native Will Power steer a wildcard entry in the future, it is not something he is considering.
His preference is focusing on having his two regular DJR Team Penske Supercars do well at Bathurst.
"I think from our perspective with all the racing we are doing and knowing how competitive it is, to take any focus off this race - you know I think we are better off running the two cars," Penske said.
"It's always something in the future ... maybe in another event we might do that, but I don't see it in the future [for Bathurst]."
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Before taking a 51 percent shareholding interest in Dick Johnson Racing in September 2014 to form what is now known as DJR Team Penske, the Supercars series and Bathurst 1000 was something Penske was aware of.
But it was not until he visited the city and Mount Panorama that he realised just how important the Great Race was on the Australian motor sport landscape.
"I was aware of Bathurst, I'd never been here so didn't realise the impact. When we came here for the first time, it was amazing to see the commitment of the people," he said.
"They plan this to be probably the biggest race in the country or in this part of the world. For me it's obviously is one of the top from the standpoint of the challenge that we have.
"Just to go around the track ... it's amazing to see the commitment that these people have.
"I regard Hinchcliffe and Ross as excellent, great drivers, not just good drivers, great drivers ... and they'd probably take their hats off to the guys that are driving around here.
"It was something I wasn't aware, the impact it has."
