Brad Keselowski signed with Penkse Racing in September. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

“More just trying to learn what resources there are to work with at Penske and where the strengths and weaknesses are ands trying to define them,” Keselowski said. “One of the things that really gets overlooked in this sport is how much of a leader a driver is on a good team, how he steers the ship, how he points out directions [the team] needs to get better in, etc.

“It’s more than just driving a car. You’ve got to be able to lead. You’re the face of the team as the driver.”

Keselowski admits he is still trying to learn how to do that, trying to learn all the people at Penske, learn how to deal with sponsors, learn what areas need work.

The folks at Penske like what they see so far.

“He’s a very dedicated guy to what he does,” Penske Racing President Tim Cindric said. “He’s a guy who I feel is very genuine in what he does and what he says and how he approaches people. That’s refreshing to see the approach he takes. He doesn’t have a lot of distractions in life right now. He’s very focused on being a successful driver. A lot of the other things that come with that, he understands will come.

“But he’s a coachable guy. He’s someone you can sit down with, and he’ll have a very strong opinion about something, but by the time the conversation’s over, he’s heard, and in some cases, he’s one of these guys that you’re able to influence if you give him an informed discussion.”

Cindric and Penske officials have watched Keselowski get in the run-ins with Hamlin, knowing none of them have come in their cars. Still, they’ve like how Keselowski has handled each situation.

“I’ve always felt like what happens on the race track is between the drivers,” Cindric said. “Trying to referee what happens on the race track is just a waste of time. That’s going to happen.

“But it’s how you handle it once you’re off the race track that’s most important to us. I feel that Brad has always spoke his mind, but he’s done it in a way that’s not disrespectful or out of spite.”

And, usually, when each incident has ended, Keselowski has soon forgotten about it. While Hamlin has used his Twitter account to talk about them, Keselowski has tried to forget them.

“Brad’s better about that than most people,” Brian said. “I’m way worse about that him. My mom’s way worse about that. Me and my mom, we have the same kind of attitude. You push me around, I’m not happy about it for a long time. Brad’s like, ‘Whatever,’ and is good to go after it’s done.

“I don’t see him holding a grudge against anybody. It just seems to happen than Denny and him don’t seem to get along too well. Denny thinks he ought to be up there, Brad thinks he’s ought to be up there, and there’s just not enough room for two of them to be in that same spot.”

Other Cup drivers, like Kyle Busch and Jeff Burton, have spoken publicly about Keselowski’s incidents with Hamlin, and Keselowski hasn’t gotten a lot of love from those drivers.

Keselowski knows he’s coming to Cup with a bit of a reputation and wonders how it will shape his relationship with fellow drivers.

“Of course you have to be worried about that,” Keselowski said. “I’d be foolish not to. But there’s really nothing I can do about it. Time will heal all wounds, if there are wounds. … I keep hearing there’s a list of people who don’t like me, but I sure haven’t met of those people.”

Other than Hamlin, who doesn’t seem to mind continuing the conversation about it.

“That’s his right,” Keselowski said. “He has a right to talk, just like I have a right to not talk. I respect that. Who am I to judge? I’m not exactly sitting here with a halo on my head.”

Still, Keselowski is like a cornerback in football who has just been beaten for a touchdown. He’s forgotten about it.

“To me, I’ve hit the reset button,” Keselowski said. “When I get on the race track, there are 42 other competitors, and we’re all just racing again. I don’t have any history with them. I’m done. I’ve moved on, gone. Some people do and some people don’t. I never have had a real good memory of ‘xyz wrecked me.’ Maybe I’ve just got a bad memory, I don’t know.

“I hold the view that the best way to fix something is just to move on. I call it playing offense. There are people in this world who go out and play defense and are always guarding against something. Trying not to lose. I don’t. I don’t like that. I don’t live my life that way. I don’t have time to hold grudges. I just don’t. I’m focused on what’s next.”

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