ESPN Sprint Cup

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ryan Newman says he's getting close to deciding where he'll drive next season but that he still has choices. Tony Stewart says he hasn't narrowed to one who will be his second driver at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009.

If the two are going to join forces, as has been the consensus around the Sprint Cup garage for several weeks, they're not saying.

"Tony Stewart called me and offered a ride in one of his sprint car teams," Newman jokingly said of the open wheel teams Stewart races on the side. "Outside of that, not a whole lot [going on].'"

There had been speculation that Stewart would name Newman as his second driver on Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It seemed the perfect scenario for a pair of Indiana drivers.

But the only planned announcement from Stewart is that he's going to drive the No. 14 car next season with Office Depot and Old Spice as his sponsors.

Two sources in the industry said Newman still could be swayed by Joe Gibbs Racing, which has a vacancy with Stewart on the way out. Whether that means JGR would put Newman in Stewart's No. 20 or give that ride to 18-year-old Joey Logano and start a fourth team with Newman was uncertain.

"Obviously, I'd love to announce it sooner than later," Stewart said of his second driver. "It will be a key to being able to attract sponsors to the second car.

"I feel like that's a big key in this whole program being successful next year is having the right teammate, so I definitely want to get that done as soon as possible."

The criteria Stewart wants for a teammate and Newman wants for an organization seem to mesh. Stewart wants somebody that's not content with running in the top 15 to 20. Newman doesn't want that either, which is why he announced last week he's leaving Penske Racing.

Stewart, a two-time Cup champion, wants to contend for championships. Newman wants a team that can give him his first championship.

"We definitely want somebody that you feel like is dedicated to what we're trying to do and realizing that we're taking an organization that's not had the success that it wants, and has the foresight to look forward and see what we're trying to accomplish," Stewart said.

Newman, who opened the season with a win in the Daytona 500, has not made the Chase since 2005. He comes to Indianapolis ranked 16th and all but out of contention for the 10-race playoff.

Because this is such an important decision he hasn't put a deadline on making a decision.

"Maybe it's like being in high school and having a bunch of girls, and if you get an opportunity to date one or the other," he said. "And you don't know the timeline of how everything's going to go, you don't know when you're going to get a date," Newman said.

"It just happens. Maybe on a Friday night you go out and think, 'Maybe that's how things are going to work out for me.'"

Stay tuned.

David Newton covers NASCAR for ESPN.com. He can be reached at dnewtonespn@aol.com.