Indianapolis – Helio Castroneves, at age 50, continues to chase the story in Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
A victory in Indianapolis 500 of this year would give him five in his brilliant career to Indycar and break a draw with AJ Foyt, to Unser and Rick Mears for most of the victories in a race that will be executed on May 25 for 109th.
He has not been successful in his last three attempts to win a fifth, but hopes this year, his 25th Indy 500, will be in which the story breaks. Not even his age has discouraged the Brazilian.
“I feel that I have a new engine,” said Castroneves. “I feel that I am ready to start. They say life starts in the 50s, so I’m ready to start over.”
Castroneves won his fourth driving of Indy 500 for Meyer Shank Racing, where he is now part of the team administration and will drive again this year. If he wins, he does not plan to get away from “the biggest show in the races.”
“I’m going to return and try for six,” Castroneves said. “I want a statue.”
For the registration, MSR has not confirmed any career for Castroneves beyond the Indy 500 of this year. But, the team values its contributions on and off the track, particularly its 500th victory in 2021.
Castroneves had spent 20 years driving for the Penske team, where he won the Indy 500 in 2001, 2002 and 2009. After a transfer to Penske’s sports car program, Castroneves got a partial trip in Indycar with Meyer Shank Racing, and Victoria 500 became two complete seasons.
The team squeezes two full -time cars now for Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong, with Castroneves as a third entry in Indianapolis.
“Basically, winning that room, putting the team on the map and know they can do it again, be it or my two other teammates. They know they can do it,” said Castroneves. “And probably that’s why we keep pressing. We feel that we are going to another level as a team.”
Rosenqvist is currently eighth in the Indycar classification, while Armstrong is 14. The qualification has dramatically improved this year, and the team created a technical alliance with the chip races of desire that has provided a great benefit for MSR. All drivers report together, although the driver of desire Scott Dixon pointed out on Wednesday that Castroneves, who has a large personality, is atypically calm at meetings.
The desire pilots have five Indy 500 victories, although Dixon is the only active pilot with a victory in the great race. But Alex Palou, his teammate, opened this season with four victories in five races, including last Saturday in the road in Indy. Palou has won the last two Indycar titles and three of the last four, and desire has 16 Total Indycar championships.
That alliance has been a massive impulse for MSR.
“We have a different association now, what really helps,” Castroneves said. “I realize the difference and I am happy to have been able to do that. They do not win races or championships because they are lucky.”
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