Helio Castroneves will be racing in this weekend’s IndyCar season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, a track he has not run since 2017.
The 46-year-old veteran has raced in partial seasons since then, but has not had a full time ride and has not driven on many of the series’ most popular tracks in four years.
Now with a full season secured with Meyer Shank Racing, he will be able to once again turn laps at many of his favorite locations, including the oceanside track that serves as the opening round of the 2022 season.
Even with so much time having passed since he last got a chance to drive the 1.8-mile temporary course, Castroneves feels that the changes to the track have been minor and that he will be comfortable running at full speed from the outset.
“It’s always a challenge every time you go into a place. However, the place is the same, obviously. They might have some new patches here and there, but at the end of the day, the layout is the same.
“I do believe the experience that I have there will still apply, even though I haven’t been there for three years, three or four years. At the end of the day a racetrack is a racetrack. As long as you’re comfortable with the race car, that won’t be an issue.”
Castroneves has been present for the Florida street race the past few years, but only as a spectator. He was the Grand Marshal for one year in 2018, and returned each year after that to watch the race at one of his favorite tracks.
When asked about having to spectate the race from the sidelines, the Brazilian laid out how hard it was to not be in a car.
“Horrible,” continued Castroneves. “It was absolutely horrible. I remember after the first year in ’18, Will [Power] and everyone [said] when I was the grand marshal, ‘Man, you should be here [in a car.] I was like, yeah, thanks. That doesn’t help.
“But now we’re back, so that’s why it’s so amazing after three years all of a sudden. It’s not that I’ve been just sitting on the couch. I’ve been obviously racing IMSA and learning from other series, but it would be great.
“It would be great to go back, and that feeling that I always had is still there, and I can’t wait. Honestly, St. Pete is also my favorite place. Really looking forward to this for this Sunday.”
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