HERTA IS STILL EXPLORING HIS OPTIONS.

Byline: TIM HADDOCK MOTOR SPORTS

Danica Patrick is staying in Indy cars. And that could mean big changes for Valencia's Bryan Herta.

Herta could end up back with Andretti Green Racing in his current IndyCar Series entry. He could end up driving for the team's newly formed American Le Mans Series team. He could end up with another IndyCar Series team.

Whatever his plan is, Herta said he is not ready to divulge it, at least not for another month.

``My plans as yet are undecided,'' said Herta, a Hart High of Newhall graduate and driver of the No. 7 Honda-powered entry for Andretti Green. ``In the next three to four weeks, I should have my stuff all done.''

Andretti Green Racing plans on running four IRL IndyCar Series teams full time in 2007. The team added a fifth car for Michael Andretti for this year's Indy 500. It was the only race Michael Andretti entered.

It also has two teams in the Indy Pro Series, the developmental league for the IndyCar Series, and plans on entering the American Le Mans Series with a one-car entry in 2007.

Tony Kanaan, Marco Andretti, Dario Franchitti and Herta are the four drivers racing for Andretti Green this year. Franchitti and Herta are in the final years of their contracts with the team.

With the addition of Patrick, it appears if either Franchitti or Herta return to Andretti Green Racing next year, their roles will be much different.

``We're still talking to both Dario and Bryan about the future,'' said Kim Green, part owner of Andretti Green Racing. When asked if either Franchitti or Herta could race for Andretti Green in the American Le Mans Series, Green said, ``It's certainly a possibility.''

``I hope to integrate some of the Indy car drivers into that,'' he said. ``Indy car drivers all love driving road courses.''

Green said he wanted to see an IRL and American Le Mans Series schedule for 2007 before making any decisions about his driver lineup.

He also added that the American Le Mans Series, which runs some 12- and 24-hour endurance sports car races, requires two, sometimes three drivers per race. It also has an extensive testing program.

Andretti Green Racing won the IRL series championship with Kanaan in 2004 and Dan Wheldon in 2005. Wheldon also won the Indianapolis 500 for Andretti Green last year.

The team has won a series-high 22 races since entering the IRL in 2003.

Herta has won two of those races, one at Kansas Speedway in 2003 and the other at Michigan International Speedway last year.

``I think it's a great thing for AGR,'' Herta said about adding Patrick to the team. ``She's very popular. It's good for the team to get her on board.''

There was some speculation that Patrick, the only woman driver in the Indy Racing League and the first woman to ever lead the Indianapolis 500, might leave the IRL and drive for a NASCAR team in 2007.

Instead, she and Andretti Green Racing announced Tuesday that she will drive one of four cars the team plans to race in 2007.

She is the third driver under contract with Andretti Green for 2007. Kanaan Andretti, the son of Michael Andretti, who owns Andretti Green Racing with Green and Kevin Savoree, are the others.

Parsons diagnosed with lung cancer

NBC NASCAR analyst Benny Parsons, a Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 winner and the 1973 Cup champion, has lung cancer.

Parsons, 65, visited his doctors after having difficulty breathing and was told afterward that he has the disease.

``Needless to say this was a huge shock,'' Parsons said in a prepared statement.

``I've got a great deal of faith in all of my physicians. ... I'm determined to pull through this and I appreciate everyone's concerns and prayers during this time.''

One of the first things Parsons said people have asked him when they found out he has lung cancer is if he smokes.

``The answer is that I smoked my last cigarette way back in 1978 and since then I've hated being around smoking,'' Parsons said. ``I don't even allow anyone in my foursome to smoke on the golf course.''

Parsons plans to continue his work as an analyst for NBC and TNT and hosting his ``Fast Talk with Benny Parsons'' radio show on the Performance Racing Network while going through his treatment.

Friends and fans wishing to write Parsons can do so by e-mailing him at [e-mail] or on a special message board at NASCAR.com.

Indy Racing League: Tony Kanaan snapped Andretti Green Racing's season winless streak at The Milwaukee Mile on Sunday.

Kanaan, one of four drivers for Andretti Green Racing, won the A.J. Foyt Indy 225 by leading a race-high 127 laps and moving quickly to the front in the first laps of the race. He started fourth and moved past teammate Marco Andretti, and Marlboro Team Penske drivers Sam Hornish and Helio Castroneves to take the lead on lap 32.

It was the first win of the year for Andretti Green Racing, a team that has won 22 races since joining the IRL in 2003.

``I had a great battle with Marco; my heart was in my throat the whole time,'' said Kanaan, driver of the No.11 Honda-powered entry for Andretti Green. ``He's my teammate and he's my boss' son so I couldn't mess up and take him out.''

Marco Andretti, who finished fifth, is the son of Michael Andretti, a part owner of Andretti Green Racing.

Valencia's Bryan Herta, driver of the No. 7 entry for Andretti Green Racing, was seventh. His team took a gamble on pit stops and fuel late in the race and he said it cost him a top-five finish.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1) The signing of Danica Patrick (front) could leave Bryan Herta (top) out of the Andretti Green Racing fold.

Stan Honda/Getty Images

(2) PARSONS

(3) no caption (race car)

Box:

(1) THIS WEEK

(2) Etc.