Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin has been invited to participate in an IndyCar rookie evaluation test by Team Penske.
The 26-year-old Kiwi drives for the American motorsport giants on the Australian circuit and has won the last two titles. While he has previously insisted he's committed to defending his title in 2020, the invitation will do little to quell speculation his future lies in the United States.
McLaughlin is engaged to an American and the offer to try out for a place in Penske's IndyCar team demonstrates the high regard he's held in by the team.
The testing will take place at Florida's Sebring International Raceway on January 13.
"Scott has been incredibly successful for DJR Team Penske over the last three seasons and he has become a true champion of our sport," said owner Roger Penske.
"He certainly embraces new challenges and we think this is a great opportunity to utilise the IndyCar Series rookie-testing programme, so Scott can experience what it is like to get behind the wheel of one of our Indy cars."
McLaughlin has produced 35 victories and 44 pole positions over the last three seasons, and has little more to achieve in Supercars, but he maintains he will return to defend his title in 2020.
"I am always open to new challenges," said McLaughlin, who set a new Supercars single-season record with 18 victories this past season. "I'm thankful to Team Penske for providing this opportunity to test an Indy car.
"We had an amazing year in 2019 and I'm looking forward to defending our Supercars championship next season. I'm also excited to grow as a driver and being with Team Penske creates cool opportunities to try something new.
"Although I have spent a few hours in a simulator earlier this year, it's going to be a blast to see what one really feels like at a place like Sebring."
Marcos Ambrose moved to NASCAR racing in 2007, after winning back-to-back Supercars titles.
Australian WIll Power is a member of the Penske team, and has won the IndyCar title and the Indy 500 as part of his outfit.
Fellow Kiwi Scott Dixon has won five IndyCar titles, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
AAP
