Castroneves ‘Still Wants to Drive’ in IMSA Despite MSR’s Exit

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Helio Castroneves has expressed a desire to continue in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship despite Meyer Shank Racing’s departure from the series for at least the 2024 season.

The Brazilian, who will scale back to a limited NTT IndyCar Series program around the Indianapolis 500 next year, has been a regular part of the Ohio-based team’s roster for the Michelin Endurance Cup races in recent years, having won last weekend’s Motul Petit Le Mans.

Prior to that, Castroneves drove three full seasons in the series with Acura Team Penske, winning the 2020 DPi title with Ricky Taylor.

While recently taking a minority ownership stake in MSR, Castroneves said he’s still actively seeking GTP or LMP2 opportunities in the WeatherTech Championship paddock next year and has stressed that he isn’t on the verge of retirement.

“I don’t want to stop, I want to keep going, for several reasons,” he told Sportscar365. “It would be awesome to do four [Daytona wins] in a row.

“I still want to drive and still want to go out there. With the experience that I earned over the years, it’s sort of like a waste. But I understand that opportunities sometimes happen and don’t.

“I do want to do the full season. I was working on something that was going towards the full season, but it fell apart. But I’m not going to put myself in a position that won’t be a good experience.

“In IMSA I have such great respect for everyone else, that I don’t want to just jump in if there is nothing that doesn’t suit what I’m looking for.”

When asked if he would consider looking at the GTD Pro or GTD ranks, the four-time Indy 500 winner didn’t close the door to such a prospect although admitted his lack of experience.

“I feel, for me, to do GTs, I don’t have the experience,” Castroneves admitted. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure I would get used to [it].

“That is not a one-year commitment; it’s long term to understand more about the car. My goal is that I would love to continue doing IMSA, for sure.

“I’m sure we’re going to have a month or two to talk about it. When it comes to the end, I hope my phone rings.

“I’ll be in some place in Brazil or Colombia and [someone says], ‘Hey, I need a driver!’ I’m in and ready. I always keep in touch with a lot of people.

“A lot of people think that he retired, but I did not retire.

“I was very clear when we announced that I was doing the Indy 500 that I’m not retiring. I’m working on something in Brazil as well, if there is an opportunity to do Stock Cars which would be great to.”

Castroneves Proud of MSR’s Evolution in Sports Cars

The Brazilian said he’s been impressed to see the team’s growth in IMSA competition over the last two decades, from when it first debuted in Grand-Am in 2004.

“It’s elevated to the next level,” Castroneves said. “It’s nothing like what it used to be 15 years ago. Mike just kept growing, growing, growing.

“Today, look at what he built up. If you see the shop, it’s incredible too. It’s a big difference.

“He hired the right people and the way to think about winning the championship last year, just to prove that he and MSR deserve to be there.

“But it’s a big change for everyone. Now we understand what needs to be done.

“I have mentioned it to Mike many times that Roger Penske used to have a sports car team. Then all of a sudden, he focused on IndyCar. Then NASCAR, and now he’s back.

“It doesn’t mean that closing one door guarantees several other doors are going to be closed.”

Castroneves said most of MSR’s sports car racing crew will move to the team’s third IndyCar effort which he will drive at Indianapolis next year.

Daniel Lloyd contributed to this report

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John