Indy 500: Helio Castroneves likely to return to Team Penske in 2019

By Asher Fair | May 27, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 27: Helio Castroneves of Brazil, driver of the #3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

After a career-low finish in the 2018 Indy 500 as a result of a wreck, three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves will likely return to Team Penske for the 2019 Indy 500.

Former full-time IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves will likely return to Team Penske for next year’s Indianapolis 500 after he drove in the IndyCar Grand Prix at the 13-turn, 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in Speedway, Indiana two weeks ago and the Indy 500 at the four-turn, 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval on Sunday.

Castroneves, 43, is a full-time driver for Team Penske’s Acura program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this season in what is his first season since the 1997 season during which he has not been a full-time IndyCar driver.

Castroneves, who made his Indy 500 debut and won the race in his debut back in 2001, entered this year’s Indy 500 having driven in the race in each of the last 17 years. In those 17 Indy 500 races, he had racked up three victories, seven podium finishes, eight top five finishes and 14 top 10 finishes. He had only failed to finish the race once.

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As opposed to becoming the fourth member of the four-time Indy 500 winners’ club, Castroneves ended up doubling his career DNF total in the Indy 500 after he wrecked in turn four on lap 146 of the 200-lap race. He was officially scored in 27th place, which is his new career-low finish in the race. He finished in 25th in the 2006 Indy 500 after he was involved in an accident on lap 110 of that race.

Back in January, Castroneves stated that he planned to continue driving in the Indy 500 beyond 2018, and it looks like he may get the chance to do so in 2019 in what would be his 10th Indy 500 during which he would be attempting to join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears as the fourth member of the Indy 500 winners’ club, as he won the Indy 500 for the third time in his career back in 2009.

After his crash on Sunday, Castroneves stated the following, according to ESPN.

"“Please, Roger, let me go back.”"

Here is how Team Penske owner Roger Penske responded to Castroneves’ request, according to ESPN.

"“It’s hard to say no to him, isn’t it? I have to talk to the president here. He’ll figure that one out for me.”"

Here is how Team Penske team principal Tim Cindric responded to it, according to ESPN.

"“He’s going to be back. He will be here next year in one of our cars. I’ll say it. That guy was sitting here this morning before I walked in, sitting in his firesuit next to his engineer ready to go, about 6:30 this morning,. He’s been in his yellow suit — I don’t think I’ve seen him out of his yellow suit since we got here this month. He’s ready to go all the time.”"

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Will Helio Castroneves end up returning to the Indianapolis 500 in 2019 driving for Team Penske in what would be his 10th Indy 500 race during which he would be attempting to become the fourth member of the four-time Indy 500 winners’ club?