INDIANAPOLIS -- Strike Joe Gibbs Racing from the list of potential employers for Ryan Newman.

Newman's name has been most prominently mentioned to land with Stewart-Haas Racing next season. Sources close to the situation said he also has had discussions with JGR, Richard Childress Racing and Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

An RCR official said Friday that he expected Newman to go to Stewart, and JGR president J.D. Gibbs said Sunday it was unlikely the driver of Penske Racing's No. 12 would join his Toyota team.

"It would be hard," Gibbs said before the Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Another time, another day, maybe. He's a great individual. You would love to have him on your team. It's just all those ducks aren't in a row."

Gibbs did say he was getting closer to naming a driver to replace Tony Stewart in the No. 20 next season. Joey Logano, the 18-year-old sensation in the Nationwide Series, remains the front-runner for that spot.

Gibbs also said JGR likely wouldn't expand to four teams in 2009.

"Next year would be hard," Gibbs said.

-- David Newton

Where are my horses?

Gibbs had the line of the day as he stood outside the police tape surrounding the NASCAR dining area.

"Don't mind me," he told officials. "I'm just over here looking for my horsepower."

JGR won its 14th Nationwide Series race of the season Saturday night when Kyle Busch drove the No. 18 to Victory Lane at O'Reilly Raceway Park. It was the first race since the governing body took horsepower from the Toyota engines in an attempt to even the playing field.

Gibbs met with NASCAR president Mike Helton on Sunday morning to again discuss his displeasure with the decision, which he says will affect his team once it heads to other tracks. He plans to meet with other officials in the next few days.

"When we hit Michigan and those other tracks, we're going to feel it pretty hard," Gibbs said. "We just kind of sat down and laid down our thoughts on it. Obviously we're discouraged from our guys' standpoint. If you look at the history of the sport, there always have been variances in motor packages.

"The reality is, how do you adjust that? Do you handicap somebody? Or do you say, 'Here's how these guys can work to gain it back'? It's obviously discouraging for our guys."

-- David Newton

Waltrip, Menard tangle early

The first caution wasn't for tires but for a Lap 4 accident involving Michael Waltrip and Paul Menard. Waltrip, in the No. 55 Toyota, spun in Turn 2, brushing Sam Hornish Jr. and then getting together with Menard's No. 15 Chevrolet.

Waltrip sustained heavy damage, eventually returning but still finishing last. Menard finished 41st.

"It wasn't a track issue, just racing," Waltrip said. "The 77 [Hornish] got wide and I dove under him and he came down. I have to control my car -- it's not his fault. I got sideways and had my car saved, felt pretty good about it. Then the 15 just ran me over."

-- John Schwarb