Dick Johnson and Roger Penske admit they're not expecting their newly-formed V8 Supercars team to enjoy instant success next season.
But the icons of Australian and American motorsport are preparing for big things from 2016 - possibly in something other than a Ford.
Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) and Team Penske will run two Falcons under a new alliance in 2015, with returning two-time champion Marcos Ambrose leading the charge.
Penske will finance the outfit and take a 51 per cent share, meaning Johnson will relinquish control of the team he founded in 1980 to the US giant.
"I've been in motor racing for a lot of years, and over those years we've had a lot of success," Johnson said on Tuesday.
"But in recent times, the success hasn't been what I got in this business for originally.
"At this point, I see this as a way for us to be able to run at the front of the field in the future."
Johnson will continue to run the day-to-day operations alongside DJR general manager Ryan Story, with Penske bringing in Jeff Swartwout as team manager and Nick Hughes as technical director.
"To me, it's a equal partnership," said Penske, who runs teams in both the NASCAR and IndyCar championships in the United States.
"We're going to try and provide input and bring our experience to the table too.
"This is a first year for us; we don't have high expectations."
Penske said he had not received a commitment from Ford before signing off on his venture with DJR, and - despite his strong ties with the manufacturer - didn't rule out changing marques beyond 2015.
"I'm a businessman and if we feel that moving from one (manufacturer) to another would enhance our chances to win, I will look at it quite honestly," he said.
"We have a long-term relationship with Ford (in the US); they have been terrific with us in NASCAR.
"We've shown them the results and I think it would have to be a pretty good deal before we'd leave Ford."
While Johnson is confident Ambrose will readily adjust to the new generation of V8 Supercars after nearly a decade out of the category, he is realistic about his chances.
"If anyone thinks you're going to come straight out of the box and win races from day one, I think that would be a pie-in-the-sky attitude," he said.
"Quite frankly, next year is going to be a learning year for all of us and we'll have a real good crack in 2016.
"But, boy, the opportunities here are endless."
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