Castroneves could be deported

While the charges shocked many in the motor sports and entertainment worlds, they were years in the making.

The 25-page indictment showed that Helio Castroneves, Kati Castroneves and a Michigan-based lawyer, Alan R. Miller, testified in a civil case in 2004 about their involvement with Seven Promotions. The indictment alleges that all three testified falsely.

Since then, government officials have investigated many entities financially associated with Castroneves and his company, Castroneves Racing, including his employer and friends such as Kanaan, Gil de Ferran and Felipe Giaffone. The fellow Brazilians wrote checks to Castroneves Racing to pay for such things as travel expenses from their mutual base in Miami to races.

Roger Penske described his company as "a witness" in the investigation.

The predicament is precarious at a minimum. Not only is Castroneves, 33, facing significant federal charges, he has his U.S. residency and career at stake.

Born a Brazilian, Castroneves lives in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables, Fla., on a U.S. visa. Such licenses have specific guidelines regarding abiding the laws.

Vitor Meira, another Brazilian who drives in the IndyCar Series, said such holders must be careful "not to even get a DUI (for impaired driving)."

Castroneves has worked and lived in the U.S. since 1996. Indy Star