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IndyCar: Helio Castroneves named Grand Prix of St. Petersburg grand marshal

By Asher Fair

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Racing driver Helio Castroneves stands on the grid during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Racing driver Helio Castroneves stands on the grid during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Championship Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2017 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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Helio Castroneves has been named grand marshal for the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which is set to open up the 2018 IndyCar season.

Three-time Indianapolis 500 champion Helio Castroneves, 42, has been named grand marshal for the 2018 IndyCar season opener, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Castroneves is a three-time winner of this particular race, which has been held for 13 seasons and has featured Castroneves each season. His three wins at the race came in 2006, 2007 and 2012. The race is scheduled for Sunday, March 11th this season.

For the first time since 1997, Castroneves does not have a full-time ride in IndyCar. Following a successful 20-year full-time career in the from 1998 to 2017, he moved to Team Penske’s Acura program in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.

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However, Castroneves has not yet officially retired from IndyCar. He is set to race in both the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 this May, and he is set to do so for Team Penske, the team he drove for in his final 18 of 20 seasons as a full-time IndyCar driver.

Castroneves, who finished in the top 5 in the championship standings in 14 of his 18 seasons driving for Team Penske but was never able to secure an IndyCar championship, also recently stated that he plans to continue driving in the Indianapolis 500 for several more seasons despite the fact that he is no longer a full-time IndyCar driver.

Here is what Castroneves had to say about the opportunity to be the grand marshal for the 2018 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to kick off the new IndyCar season, according to Motorsport.com.

"“The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has always been one of my favorite events. The fences are great to climb. I am honored to be grand marshal this year. I will miss competing in the race, but I look forward to seeing all of the fans and taking part in all of the activities during the weekend. I cannot wait to see the new aero kit IndyCars – fans will not want to miss out on all of the action.”"

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Will you be happy to see Helio Castroneves as the grand marshal for the 2018 IndyCar season opener, the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg? Would you rather see him driving in the race? The season is set to begin with this race on Sunday, March 11th, and the race is set to be broadcast live on ABC starting at 12:30 pm ET.