CLEAR PLANS; That's true of Helio Castroneves, but the rest of the 2004 IRL driver lineup could look much different from the 2003 roster.(Motorsports)

Byline: CURT CAVIN

The turnover in the Indy Racing League will be great for 2004, now that Sam Hornish Jr. will replace the retiring Gil de Ferran.

The announcement from Team Penske came a day after Helio Castroneves held off Hornish for the win at Nazareth Speedway. Hornish, the two-time IRL champion, will have the option to move to Roger Penske's Nextel Cup program in the future.

Terms were not disclosed, but Hornish is seeking at least a three-year deal.

The 35-year-old de Ferran will step down as a two-time CART champion and the 2003 Indy 500 champion.

Meanwhile, there is a scramble behind Hornish, as the Panther Racing ride he will vacate at season's end is a delicious opportunity for somebody. Panther co-owner John Barnes plans to test Alex Barron, J.J. Yeley, Ed Carpenter and Infiniti Pro Series leader Mark Taylor, among others, including A.J. Foyt IV. But Barnes is coy when it comes to other veterans who might be in line to lead what is expected to become a two-car team.

"There are some people who are still under contract right now that we're interested in,'' he said. That list could include Paul Tracy, Buddy Rice, Tomas Scheckter and Dan Wheldon, among others. Rice looks like he might be available after his current team owner Eddie Cheever Jr. said Nazareth Speedway was a put-up-or-shut-up event for many of his key people, including Rice. The Firestone Indy 225 did not go well for Rice, who finished two laps down in 10th place. Rice has not finished on the lead lap since the race in Richmond, a slump of six races.