Optimism flows out of overhauled Penske garage

You would think that with the prospect of bringing a new driver on board, aligning another with a different crew chief and being a manufacturer's only Sprint Cup Series team, Roger Penske would have some reservations about the upcoming season.

Brad Keselowski, who takes over for the No. 12 team, says he believes in Penske's many personnel moves. (Getty Images)

Brad Keselowski coming to the No. 12, Steve Addington working with Kurt Busch and acting as the Cup Series flagship organization for Dodge are all positives in the world of Penske.

"We have the pieces in place here to be a very successful team and have a very good season," Penske said.

Despite Dodge pulling its support from other teams in the garage due to the economic difficulties faced by the manufacturer, Penske believes his organization is in a better position because of it.

"I think we have a competitive advantage," Penske said. "The fact that all the resources, both technical and from a marketing standpoint, are supporting our drivers and our other sponsors, we have that benefit with Dodge. ... Believe me, this is just not putting your name on the side of a car or having your decal as a Dodge running around the race track. This is about selling cars, about selling product."

Penske cars running up front, winning races and contending for a title would help reach that goal and the trio of drivers set to do battle share the optimism of their boss.

Busch, Sam Hornish Jr. and newcomer Keselowski all believe each is capable of fulfilling the lofty ambitions set forth by Penske.

That will mean a marked improvement over a year ago, when only Busch visited Victory Lane and made the Chase.

"It doesn't take a driver, it takes a team, and for everybody to understand that, which has been a major part of the process since Day 1 when I met with Mr. Penske and his group about coming over here was understanding that I alone -- I can't fix anything myself," said Keselowski, who replaces David Stremme in the 12 entry. "We all have to work together. I don't have any magic cures or magic wand other than heart and desire and a passion to win. There's some skills that come with that, yes, but it's the passion that makes the most difference."

Keselowski also thinks the changes the team has made to personnel on the No. 12 team, including bringing in new crew chief Jay Guy, as well as throughout the organization will help the performance on the effort in 2010 and beyond.

"I see the passion from Mr. Penske that it takes to turn things around on the 12 team," Keselowski said. "We've made some key changes already and starting to build depth. Hired a lot of people, crazy amount of people, really good ones, too, from Jay Guy and Paul Wolfe to crew chief my cup car and Nationwide car and [Busch's crew chief] Steve Addington.

"Even though Steve is not on my team, naturally the things that are learned on Kurt's car and Sam's car are going to apply to my car and make it better. Bringing in a lot of new ideas, a lot of fresh faces and that's carrying over into the shop to where -- we flew down on the plane, Kurt and Sam and I, and we were talking about the different vibe that's already through the shop with the crew chiefs plugging away and working together. Those things are very beneficial, and we'll have to see where it leads, but I believe in it."

Busch is also a believer in what Addington will bring to the table and looks forward to working with his new crew chief, who comes to the No. 2 ride after being paired up with Busch's younger brother Kyle at Joe Gibbs Racing.

"The credentials he brings was the deciding factor," Busch said. "We looked at a guy internally; I was ready to go with him. But somebody of [Addington's] caliber and status made me think and reevaluate where we needed to go.

"To win 12 races in the last two years, that's solid. Nobody in the garage area has that type of track record other than Jimmie Johnson and a couple of others."

Busch also sees Addington's previous experience working with his family as a plus in developing his relationship with the new crew chief.

"With him being connected to my little brother, it's going to make the transition easier," Busch said. "He's going to know the Busch wavelengths on what we're thinking.

"Finding out from Kyle some of the key answers, that will come down the road, and that will only help our relationship develop. Right now we're just in 101 working to try to get to 102 and move on to further advancements after that."