IndyCar: 5 drivers who should attempt the Memorial Day Double

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FORT WORTH, TX – JUNE 09: Helio Castroneves, driver of the #3 AAA Insurance Team Penske Chevrolet (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

Helio Castroneves

Helio Castroneves, who turned 43 years old today, is not a full-time IndyCar driver this season for the first time since the 1997 season. He drove full-time for Team Penske in his final 18 IndyCar seasons from the 2000 season to the 2017 season after opening up his IndyCar career driving for Bettenhausen Racing in the 1998 season and Hogan Racing in the 1999 season.

Instead, Castroneves is a full-time driver in Team Penske’s Acura program in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship. That said, he is still returning to Team Penske’s IndyCar team for the two races at Indianapolis, the IndyCar Grand Prix and the Indy 500, as the team’s fourth driver in addition to their three full-time drivers.

With Team Penske being one of only two teams with full-time teams in both IndyCar and the NASCAR Cup Series, it would be interesting to see them add Castroneves to their lineup for the Coca-Cola 600 on of these years as their fourth driver in addition to their three full-time drivers, just like they are doing with him this year for the Indianapolis races this year.

Castroneves has never driven in NASCAR before, but he does plan on driving in the Indy 500 for several more years, and he would likely continue to do so for Team Penske.

With Team Penske having moved Castroneves to their Acura program in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship after he drove full-time 20 seasons in IndyCar, them moving him to the Cup Series for one race at Charlotte Motor Speedway to attempt the Memorial Day Double would certainly make a lot of sense if he ever wanted to pursue it.

He should certainly consider it, especially since he is no longer fully committed to IndyCar but wants to continue driving in the Indy 500 for several more years.