Can't say we saw this one coming. Subaru has issued a press release today, "Subaru Bids Farewell to Travis Pastrana," and in one fell swoop, Pastrana's relationship with Subaru is over. Subaru has never had a better spokesman in the U.S…. how many other manufacturers can say their spokesman jumped one of their cars off the Long Beach, California, pier on New Year's Eve and lived to tell about it?

So what's next for Pastrana? And who will Subaru get to replace him?

Subaru of America's Dominick Infante comments on Pastrana's departure after the jump.

Subaru

Well, he's still under contract with Red Bull, which might well have tired of Kimi Raikkonen, who drives for Citroen's junior WRC team. But we doubt Pastrana would make this leap after watching Ken Block struggle at it.

Nor has Pastrana flatly denied suggestions that he might drive a Red Bull Toyota in a few NASCAR Nationwide races next season. There's no obvious spot for him on Red Bull's Sprint Cup contingent, which recently decided to field just two teams in 2011. But no question, Pastrana would instantly confer a new level of coolness and respect on NASCAR just by showing up in places like Charlotte and Talladega.

As for Subaru, well, we could see veteran rally driver Tommi Makinen taking Pastrana's place for a year or two. Makinen prefabricated the trip to the U.S. for last week's SEMA show, where Subaru displayed the 2011 WRX STI Makinen used for his Nurburgring hot lap.