Tuesday’s auto racing roundup: Keselowski moving to Penske in 2010

Brad Keselowski will drive in the Cup and Nationwide series in 2010 for Penske Racing.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Brad Keselowski's long courtship with Penske Racing ended yesterday when he finally took an offer to move to the Sprint Cup Series.

Keselowski, who had been hoping to move into a Cup ride with mighty Hendrick Motorsports, will instead drive the No.12 Dodge next season. He'll replace David Stremme and run full schedules in both the Cup and Nationwide Series.

"This was the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life," Keselowski said. "But I woke up this morning feeling confident I had made the right one. It was clear to me this is the direction I want to head."

Keselowski said he relied upon advice from Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt, who own his current Nationwide team, as well as Rick Hendrick. He had turned down the No. 12 before this season in hopes of graduating into a Hendrick ride in 2010, but Mark Martin's decision not to scale back next year meant there wasn't a seat to offer NASCAR's hottest prospect.

"I have the blessings of Dale, Kelley and Rick to come out and do this," he said. "I am where I am at today because of their support."

Terms of the contract were not announced, and a release sent by the team said only that Keselowski will drive for Penske next season.

Hendrick sent a message across the garage two weeks ago, warning other teams that wherever Keselowski drives in 2010 "he'll always be close enough for me to get him and bring him back."

Injuries put early end to Power's IndyCar season

INDIANAPOLIS -- IndyCar driver Will Power is expected to miss the rest of this season but will not need surgery to repair the broken bones in his back.

Power will continue wearing a brace during a recovery that is expected to last at least four months. He will begin physical therapy for his injuries later this week.

IndyCar's orthopedic specialist, Dr. Terry Trammell, examined Power on Monday in Indianapolis. He diagnosed fractures in Power's second, third and fourth lumbar vertebrae and his fifth thoracic vertebra. Power also sustained a concussion and a chipped left front tooth in an Aug. 22 crash at Sonoma, Calif.

Power, who drives for Roger Penske's team, is expected to be healthy in time for next year's season opener in Brazil.

Ecclestone worried Renault may leave F1

LONDON -- Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is worried Renault may pull out of the sport following accusations the team ordered a crash to help Fernando Alonso win a race.

Renault's departure would be a blow to a sport that lost Honda after last year's championship and is set to lose BMW at the end of this season.

F1's governing body is investigating "alleged incidents," believed to be a crash by Nelson Piquet Jr. that allowed teammate Alonso to take advantage of an early pit stop and win last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

Ecclestone said Renault team principal Flavio Briatore told him he knows of no such conspiracy.

Piquet Jr. crashed on the 13th lap, and Alonso's gamble to run a short 12-lap strategy before pitting paid off as the Spanish driver went on to an unlikely victory.

Massa receives positive medical report

MARANELLO, Italy -- Injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa received a positive medical report after visiting a specialist in racing injuries in Miami and -- after minor surgery this week -- expects to resume physical workouts as he takes his first step on the road back to Formula One.

An accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July nearly cost Massa his life, but the Brazilian is hoping to return for the Oct. 18 Brazilian Grand Prix.

On Monday, Massa met with Steve Olvey, a former medical director for CART and a specialist in racing injuries.

Neurological and vision tests came back positive, Ferrari reported on its Web site yesterday, adding that Massa can resume physical workouts after minor surgery on his cranium. The procedure will be performed in the next few days followed by a brief recovery period.