CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Brian Vickers got permission from Hendrick Motorsports to look for a new ride.

"Brian came to us recently and expressed his desire to explore opportunities outside our organization," Hendrick spokesman Jesse Essex said Thursday. "Although he is under contract, we have given him permission to do so."

Car owner Rick Hendrick has been committed to the 22-year-old Vickers, and recently gave him a multiyear extension that had not been previously announced. That contract will run through 2009.

So it's unclear why Vickers now wants to leave one of NASCAR's super-teams. Hendrick also fields cars for four-time series champion Jeff Gordon — whom Vickers is close friends with — points leader Jimmie Johnson, and 21-year-old hotshot Kyle Busch.

But Vickers has not had success in his two-plus seasons at the Nextel Cup level. While Busch scored two victories during last year's rookie season, Vickers and his No. 25 team are winless with only 17 top 10 finishes in 90 career Cup starts.

Johnson, Gordon and Busch are all ranked in the top 10 of the points standings, but Vickers is a distant 26th.

Essex said the driver was traveling to Sunday's race at Pocono Raceway and not available to comment. It's possible that Vickers may be trying to capitalize on NASCAR's current shortage of available drivers.

Robert Yates Racing has its top seat, the No. 88 Ford, open because Dale Jarrett is leaving at the end of the season and Toyota is still looking for drivers to fill its inaugural 2007 roster. But Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick signed long-term extensions to stay with their current teams, and Casey Mears has claimed he wants to work out a deal to remain at Chip Ganassi Racing.