Three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves will reportedly drive for Meyer Shank Racing in 2021, contesting a part-time schedule for the growing IndyCar team.
Castroneves had raced for Team Penske for his entire career until this season when he stepped in for an ailing Oliver Askew for two races at Arrow McLaren SP.
The new deal will see the 45-year-old veteran race at six races next season, including the Indy 500 which is planned to return to its traditional spot on the calendar in May.
The other five races will be comprised of road courses consisting of the three races on the West Coast, Barber Motorsports Park, and the fall visit to the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
MSR ran a full IndyCar season this past year for the first time, expanding from the previous three years of part-time running.
Jack Harvey drove the lone entry, as he has done since the team came into the sport, and managed to pick up six top-10 finishes in his and the team’s best season so far.
Team owner Michael Shank has stated in the past that he intends to grow his IndyCar operation from one car to two in the near future, and hiring Castroneves will be the method in which that will happen.
The last time Castroneves ran a full IndyCar season was 2017, when the Brazilian grabbed his sixth consecutive top-5 points finish. Since then he has driven the Indy 500 as well as the accompanying race on the IMS road course.
The first race that fans will get to see Castroneves back on track will be at Barber Motorsports Park on April 11, for the second round of the 2021 season.
Confirmation of the deal and further details surrounding the part-time arrangement are expected from the team within the next day.
