Castroneves to NASCAR?
Helio Castroneves: No worries. What you heard was out of context. I'm doing everything I can to clinch the championship and run here in open wheel. Right now we've merged and the series is in a good spot and I would say the opportunity, I don't think, is there to go to NASCAR. I would consider it in that you should always leave doors open.
05/22/08 Castroneves said Wednesday that his thoughts are no different than those of any other driver. "Ask anyone if they've thought about (driving in) NASCAR, Formula One or any other series, and the answer is yes," he said. "But I don't think there's an opportunity for me there and as I've said many times before, I want to be in IndyCar.
"Right now I have a lot of things left to accomplish here."
Castroneves emphasized that his total focus is on Sunday's race, where he will start fourth. Anyone who thinks otherwise is being ridiculous, he said. "I'm thinking about how I can win for a third time and somebody wants to write about NASCAR?" he said. "Come on." Indy Star
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| Helio Castroneves never talked about moving to NASCAR until he was told to move over in Japan and let Danica by. Supposedly he was low on fuel, but they both stopped last on lap 143 and both topped off again on lap 148 for the run to the finish. Both have identical cars and engines. Hmm…. |
05/20/08 Driver Helio Castroneves, who is seeking to win his third Indianapolis 500 this weekend, said he is considering following several other open-wheel racers and moving to NASCAR but has made no decision yet.
"I won't deny that I'm thinking about it," Castroneves said Monday night. "It would be great to one day try the [stock] cars. But at this point I'm focusing on Indy cars and winning the Indianapolis 500 again."
The ebullient Brazilian, 33, is one of the IndyCar Series' most popular drivers, and his fame shot even higher this spring after he won the "Dancing with the Stars" television competition. Castroneves won with dancing partner Julianne Hough based on viewers' votes, and he was in Los Angeles this week to help crown the show's latest winners.
His switch to stock-car racing would be a big blow to the IndyCar Series just as it's trying to bolster its popularity after its reunion with the other major U.S. open-wheel racing group, the now-defunct Champ Car World Series. "It depends on the opportunity," he said. "It's all about the timing and I'm not sure if the timing is right." LA Times