![]() ![]() But moving Castroneves into that sports car program was the best move for the Penske brand, and as such, an easy business decision. ![]() He's the longest-tenured Penske driver, side-by-side with "The Captain" since 2000, and the two are intertwined in businesses beyond racing. Penske is a businessman first and race fan second, so when Team Penske had to downsize its Ind圜ar operation to three full-time cars, the 43-year-old Castroneves was cast away to its nascent sports car program. If he wins Sunday, then he's going to Detroit (next week), and he's going to do really well there and then he's going to finish the season. "If he wins, he's never going to go away," teammate Simon Pagenaud said. He also never finished lower than fifth in points his final six seasons. Castroneves desperately wants to be in Ind圜ar, where he won 30 races and finished second in the standings four times. The tightknit Penske lineup rolled its eyes at Penske's promise. With a caveat: Castroneves could still run this year's Indy 500.Īnd if he happens to win in the Pennzoil-sponsored "Yellow Submarine" that Johnny Rutherford and four-time winner Rick Mears made famous? Well, Penske told The Associated Press, "he will have an open ticket to go for a fifth, for sure." The Brazilian has a seat as a favor from Roger Penske, because when the boss needed Castroneves to anchor his new sports car team, the company man agreed. To be honest, that's what I know what to do best."ĪP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer contributed to this report.INDIANAPOLIS - The screaming yellow firesuit made Helio Castroneves easy to find at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Ĭastroneves is wrapping up another May at his favorite race track and getting another chance Sunday at a record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 victory. "I want to keep going, obviously," Castroneves said. The 44-year-old Brazilian is exploring some business opportunities outside racing, but wants to continue his career. And also doing the sports car program, it's a great challenge. I only had one day (in the car,) and I was five hundredths away from the fast six (in qualifying.) Which shows that I have it, you know? But I trust the system, I trust the team and we'll see what happens. "When you jump in at the Grand Prix and jump in in Indianapolis, it's like a case of 'why?' It's actually worse," Castroneves said. Which is understandable."Ĭastroneves, who was at the Ind圜ar race at Road America over the weekend as a corporate ambassador for race title sponsor the REV Group, acknowledged it is difficult to be at an Ind圜ar race and not to be behind the wheel. I can race in Brazil, or Europe - anything that they're not competing in. "I don't think my contract allows a possibility of (racing Indy for another team) next year with (a Penske contract in) IMSA still," Castroneves said. Castroneves said his contract to drive for Penske's IMSA team has a clause that prevents him from racing against Penske in any other series that the team competes in. Outside of another shot with Penske, Castroneves' options appear to be limited. In a text message to The Associated Press, Penske said, "At the moment I think he will be in our plans." But who knows? I'm feeling confident that there could be another year, but let's see." I did hear he's talking about a fourth car. ![]() "Which helps tremendously to talk not only with sponsors, and with Roger. "The good news is, the team won the Indy 500," Castroneves said. Will he be able to pull off a similar deal with Penske next year to go after a record-tying fourth Indy win?Ĭastroneves said it will depend largely on finding a sponsor, a search he believes will be helped greatly by the fact that another Penske driver, Simon Pagenaud, won Indy in May. He now drives for Penske's IMSA sports car racing team, and Penske brought him back to Ind圜ar for the month of May the past two years. Helio Castroneves is optimistic team owner Roger Penske will give him another chance to win the Indianapolis 500 for the fourth time next year.Ĭastroneves no longer races full-time in Ind圜ar after a nearly two-decade career with Penske that included Indy 500 wins in 2001, 20. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |