Dodge says goodbye to NASCAR _ at least for now

Penske will begin a five-year deal with Ford in 2013, with Keselowski and Joey Logano driving for the two-car team.

Given what Penske has done in 2012 _ with or without a championship _ no one will question whether the two-car team will be able to compete with larger organizations.

Gilles recalled hearing questions about that before the season.

“Everyone looked at us a bit sideways like, `Huh, your two cars are going to go against the Goliaths?’” he said. “We didn’t listen to the noise. We had one very experienced driver and we had this one up and comer. Our data said he was fast; our data said he was focused. Of course, he was a little erratic in the beginning. … But he’s come a long way. He’s come a long way faster than I ever thought he would. I have nothing but respect for Brad.”

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