"I guess for me it's kind of like a dream list of guys that who would I really, ultimately love to race with," Stewart said. Stewart said over the next few weeks and months he will be revealing more about the series, including additions to the field of legendary drivers. Email IndyStar motor sports reporter Nathan Brown at nlbrown@gannett.com. “It’s always great to be back in Indy. It’s an incredible place, and it’s always great to be back in IndyCar as well. For years, the two famously lived down the street and around the corner from each other in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – close enough for the active driver to borrow his former teammate’s boat from time to time. The three-time Indy 500 winner is … Having raced just two full seasons in CART at the time, Castroneves replaced Moore and made it his home for 18 full seasons that included three Indy 500 titles – the first two with de Ferran as a teammate. As he teams up with a driver less than half his age in 21-year-old Pato O’Ward, who presently sits third in the season standings, Castroneves understands the uniqueness and level of difficulty this brief chapter in his racing career holds.

Castroneves is no novice to filling in under tough circumstances. "Forget about whoever you think is best... That's my nature and my DNA. "So far every driver that we've sent invitations to has accepted.". Helio Castroneves, three-time Indy 500 winner, to join SRX series. The three-time Indy 500 winner is the fifth driver to be announced for the inaugural season, joining co-founder and NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Tony Kanaan and Paul Tracy. Helio Castroneves has been announced as the latest driver to join the Superstar Racing Experience. “The whole situation is tough business, but (Oliver’s) a young man with a bright future ahead of him, so we want to make sure he’s taking care of his health first,” Castroneves said. Though he’s been an open book stating he hopes to return to IndyCar as a full-time driver in 2021, after Team Penske ceases its partnership with Acura in IMSA and pauses the program, being tabbed for this latest assignment isn’t to say AMSP is his destination next year. "I'm excited to see how these cars drive," Stewart said. The races will air next summer on CBS.
"We know what we want these cars to feel like. In need of a replacement – and with seasoned veterans (Sebastien Bourdais and James Hinchcliffe) getting snatched up recently for Harvest GP assignments – AMSP looked to Castroneves, who still has an IMSA race at Mid-Ohio with Acura Team Penske this weekend before he can narrow his focus to IndyCar. "Every time you put the helmet on, forget about friendship," he said. In 2000, he changed his surname from Cast… Who knows. You have a friend, and now you’ve got to tell it as it is, which is fine. In 1977, the family moved to Ribeirão Preto, an agricultural town about 150 mi (240 km) northwest of São Paulo, to allow his father to find business in the region's thriving ethanol processing industry. That’s the goal for next weekend, and hopefully we have fun.”. Castroneves said he’s actively speaking with four IndyCar teams about 2021 deals that range from running the 500 to a full-season ride. In the fall of 1999, the IndyCar veteran made his jump into one of CART’s premier seats on the heels of Greg Moore’s fatal crash in the season finale at Fontana. Stewart founded SRX alongside Ray Evernham, George Pyne and Sandy Montag. So you want to win as much as you can, you want to defeat them then make fun of them.". Hopefully in the short time I have, I’m able to add a little bit to the team, and with that, they can continue growing. “But I’m sure excited. It's modeled on the International Race of Champions (IROC) series and is focused on making races about driver ability as opposed to who has the best car. Castroneves wants to be clear, though. Everyone’s really enthusiastic, and it’s a great energy.

Roger Penske had already tabbed the Canadian driver to take over one of Team Penske’s two seats in 2000, alongside Gil de Ferran.
We know what we feel like is going to put on good races and when you can bring the talent in to drive these cars that we're going to bringing in. “And I’m open for business. He was educated in the São Paulo school system. Making his way to Victory Lane for a race at his old boss’s new track in 2020 would be the perfect way to help vault Castroneves to his next racing home, wherever that may be.

Though the 23-year-old driver was checked and cleared immediately following the Aug. 23 accident, he reported “balance and coordination issues” following the Mid-Ohio doubleheader Sept. 12-13, according to a release from the team. “This first race, let me see where I’m at, and the second, let’s go for it.”. Castroneves explained that while he's going to have fun racing against friends, he's going to be taking the competition seriously. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. “Yeah, that’s the only bad part, having to deal with that guy again,” laughed Castroneves.

I don’t feel like I have to prove anything to anybody. Team officials have spoken openly in recent months about a goal of expanding to three cars, and with Castroneves’ relationship with de Ferran and background driving Chevy cars for Team Penske, he’s a more than worthy and sensible candidate. “This business, it can change any minute,” read a text message from Helio Castroneves on Wednesday. I hope I don’t make that mistake. But top of mind at the moment, is the driver nearly half his age that he’s filling in for.

The races will air next summer on CBS. People are going to be watching and considering one thing or another, but in my way, I’ve just got to go out there and help as much as I can in this difficult situation they’re in, and I’m glad Team Penske allowed me to do that.”. All the sudden, you join another and the fun part is, it’s like going to an old neighborhood and saying, ‘Hey, I know you’ or ‘I remember you!’”. I definitely want to go out there and, as always, go try and do my best.”. It’ll be great to have this open relationship. Castroneves was born in São Paulo, Brazil on May 10, 1975, to automobile dealer Helio Castroneves Sr and former school teacher Sandra Gomez Castroneves (née Alves). In addition to three Indianapolis 500 victories, the Brazilian IndyCar driver brings a resume of 30 wins and 50 pole positions in the series. I want these drivers to have fun driving the cars but I think we're going to be able to put on a great race for fans.". Castroneves is doing so, though, under the veil of health concerns with the AMSP’s rookie driver Oliver Askew, who was deemed unfit to drive next week after lingering concussion-like symptoms stemming from his massive crash into the infield wall on Lap 91 of last month’s Indianapolis 500. I’m still talking to everyone and want to continue talking,” he said. “As a driver, you sometimes think of something and go with the flow, and all the sudden for 20 years, you’ve been going to one garage. 87.2k Followers, 109 Following, 2,070 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Helio Castroneves (@heliocastroneves) People are going to be watching and considering one thing or another, but in my way, I’ve just got to go out there and help as much as I can in this difficult situation they’re in, and I’m glad Team Penske allowed me to do that.”, Askew 'not medically cleared' for Harvest G, Insider: How and why Conor Daly is racing a truck with no practice, Sage Karam, Dreyer and Reinbold Racing entering Harvest Grand Prix doubleheader, IMS to allow 10,000 fans daily for IndyCar's Harvest Grand Prix doubleheader, IndyCar announces 'a heck of a party' in Nashville for 2021 Music City Grand Prix, Scott McLaughlin will make his IndyCar debut with Team Penske in St. Pete, lived down the street and around the corner from each other, he’s actively speaking with four IndyCar teams, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Visit Us At | www.newhollandauto.com BACK TO TOP © 2020 - Castroneves Racing. Helio Castroneves has been announced as the latest driver to join the Superstar Racing Experience. He said Stewart was at his first IndyCar win in 2001, so it would be fun to beat him. Stewart was also excited about adding Castroneves. That’s the great part of doing this for 20 years for one team. "It's another way to continue to innovate myself and get better as a driver.". All Rights Reserved. In the fall of 1999, the IndyCar veteran made his jump into one of CART’s premier seats on the heels of Greg … Next week, they’ll reunite, with 2003 Indy 500 winner now the Sporting Director of McLaren Racing, though they’ve rarely been too far away. He is set to start from the 28th position in Sunday's Indy 500. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. Three hours later he’d have the latest proof – a call from Arrow McLaren SP that caught him by surprise, asking him to break his 20-year streak of driving exclusively for Team Penske in American open-wheel racing and enter next weekend’s Harvest Grand Prix doubleheader. ELKHART LAKE, WI - JUNE 24: Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, celebrates after winning the pole position for the Kohler Grand Prix IndyCar race at Road America on June 24, 2017 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.