Brant James

USA TODAY

DOVER, Del. – Roger Penske believes free agent Josef Newgarden would be a “great fit” for his IndyCar team and hopes to finalize his 2017 lineup, either with the 25-year-old or possibly current driver Juan Pablo Montoya returning, within the next few weeks.

Penske told USA TODAY Sports before the Chase for the Sprint Cup NASCAR race at Dover International Speedway on Sunday that, “I think there’s been conversation going on, yes,” with the three-race winner formerly of Ed Carpenter Racing. Penske noted, however, that Newgarden may not necessarily push out Montoya, a 41-year-old former series champion. Montoya won the 2015 Indianapolis 500 but slumped to ninth in points this season after pacing most of the previous campaign but finishing second to Scott Dixon.

“I think Juan and I have talked about his opportunities and I think that he’s got some things he’s working on,” Penske said. “In fact, that’s one of the things that we have to do, is find out exactly what he’s going to do and that’s a conversation that he and I have to have.”

Josef Newgarden leaving Ed Carpenter Racing

Penske believes Newgarden would complement a lineup consisting of series champion Simon Pagenaud, former champion Will Power and three-time Indianapolis 500-winner Helio Castroneves.

“Well I think, obviously he’d be a great fit for our team,” Penske said of the Tennessee native. “We’ve not made any deal with Newgarden as I stand here in Dover today. Obviously, he’s someone we’re looking at now that he’s available.”

Carpenter informed ECR officials on Thursday that he would not return. Newgarden has spent all 83 races of his five-year IndyCar career with some vestige of the team, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing beginning in 2012, which became Carpenter Fisher Hartman and then ECR this season. He won two races and finished seventh in points in 2015 and improved to fourth this year with one win despite breaking his hand and collarbone in a crash at Texas Motor Speedway.

Penske wants his fourth spot filled soon.

“I would hope that something like this we need to get a decision made,” Penske said. “I would say within the next couple of weeks at the latest.”