Partially on the suggestion of Brad Keselowski, Penske President Tim Cindric said the team initially approached Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs about signing Logano after its No. 22 opened with Kurt Busch's release in December.  "There were rumors at that point of releasing (Logano), and J.D. said that wasn't true at all," Cindric said Wednesday. "His response was he wanted to do whatever he could to keep Joey in the fold long-term. I still believe that's true; it just didn't work out."  In the wake of Matt Kenseth being hired to drive his No. 20 Toyota, Logano rejected an offer from JGR to stay as a full-time Nationwide Series driver and elected for a multiyear deal with Penske as Keselowski's teammate starting in 2013.  Logano, 22, is in his fourth season on NASCAR's premier circuit after replacing Tony Stewart in the No. 20. He welcomed the fresh start.  "It's a great opportunity for me to win some races and try to win a championship," said Logano, who became the youngest Daytona 500 starter in history as an 18-year-old in 2009 but hasn't finished higher than 16th in the points standings. "Brad Keselowski played a really big role in getting me in here and getting a meeting with Roger Penske. He was the one who called me and said, 'Hey, this is a great opportunity for you.'  "That means a lot to have a teammate that really wants you there. I hope we can learn from each other and make each other better race car drivers and make team the best we possibly can."  Logano will be taking over the No. 22 Dodge, which has been driven the past eight races by Sam Hornish Jr. in place of fired A.J. Allmendinger.  It's been a tumultuous year for the Shell Pennzoil-sponsored ride, whose image was besmirched by Busch's run-ins with the media and then by Allmendinger's failed drug test two months ago.  Cindric said "there was extra sensitivity about ensuring we had someone with the right character as well," and Logano's clean-cut image and savvy with sponsors was a large selling point — along with a resume that includes two Sprint Cup wins and 15 Nationwide victories (including six in 15 starts this season).  "His character is proven," Cindric said. "I think we're very fortunate to have a guy like Sam in that respect as well. Between Sam and Joey, they represent the brands very well and Penske Racing very well. It's certainly a positive and something we certainly have to get right as we go forward. We're confident that Joey will represent that as well as anyone else.  "We've won with that car before and feel we can continue to do that."  In addition to the No. 22, Cindric said it's likely Logano also will drive part-time in Nationwide as Penske makes its switch to Ford next season.  The team wanted to add a Cup car for Hornish, too, but it seems likely the 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner will drive full time in Nationwide for the second consecutive season with a smattering of Cup starts.  "Our first preference would be a full-time third Cup car, but it's pretty late in the year," Cindric said. "Some of the potential with sponsorship hasn't come to fruition yet. You'll see Sam in a couple of Cup races and a full season of Nationwide."  Though Logano remains fully committed to JGR in the short term — he could earn his first Chase for the Sprint Cup berth if he wins Saturday at Richmond International Raceway— he also is relishing the opportunity of working with Keselowski, who made his Cup debut just a few months earlier than Logano.  "I feel being young is something we have in common and can work a friendship out through that," said Logano, who is six years younger than Keselowski. "We already had a relationship talking about things. I think those relationships with drivers and teammates are more important than most people think."  Team harmony hasn't always been evident at Penske, which endured Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman openly feuded with each other during their four seasons as teammates. Cindric said the chemistry between Keselowski and Logano was an important factor.  "They need to be ones helping the team go forward together, rather than forcing people internally to pick a side," Cindric said. "It needs to be about Penske Racing. Once on the track, they can sort out who wins. That's a big positive to this is the relationship those guys have developed."  It's also a positive for Logano, who seemed to get lost at JGR behind title-caliber teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin.  "My voice was heard for sure there, but I think it'll be even more (at Penske)," he said. "As involved as they let their drivers be and being able to work with Brad that much, I think my voice will be even louder here — which hopefully is a good thing for them."
Joey Logano's hiring by Penske Racing completed a courtship that actually began 10 months earlier and was initiated by his new teammate.