‘Rookie’ Castroneves back in Canada
Helio Castroneves returns to racing in Canada this weekend, but he returns as a rookie driver on a track he has never seen, let alone raced on.
The IndyCar veteran will be competing in the latest round of the IMSA Weather Tech Sports Car Championship during the Mobil 1 Sportscar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on July 5-8.
“I’m excited to be back in Canada and try a new track,” Castroneves said recently in a telephone interview. “This is my first time at CTMP.”
The 43-year old Brazilian, who now lives in Florida, signed on with Penske Racing last year as part of its DPi (Daytona Prototype) class effort, driving an Acura ARX-05 in the series’ fastest division. And, after 18 years driving in the open-wheeled IndyCar series, all with Penske, he said he is becoming comfortable in the Acura but still has a long way to go.
“I am looking for a challenge. The cars are completely different,” said the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner. “Sometimes it is harder to adapt to the single line racing as with IndyCar. I want to learn as much as I can.”
Castroneves’ previous racing in Canada was at the wheel of a Penske Indy car for the Toronto race. He never won the event, but placed second three times, in 2013, 2014 and 2016.
The Team Penske Acura is a full-blooded sports car, weighing about 2,000 pounds, powered by a
3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 engine, and capable of 200 m.p.h.
Castroneves is teamed with Ricky Taylor, a full-time sports car driver with many wins to his credit and the 2017 IMSA championship. The team currently ranks third in the 2018 standings, and placed 12th in the six-hour event at Watkins Glen last weekend.
Although he has competed in the Australian V8 Super car series, Castroneves admitted he is still in learning mode.
“I think the race at Laguna Seca was the hardest,” he said about adjustments in racing technique between the two types of cars. “Every lap is different and you are constantly pushing. There has been a big adjustment driving with other cars and classes, trying to fit my nose in. No question, it has been a big learning process.
“I think I read something right, and the next lap it all changes,” he said. “You have to be very versatile.”
Along with the IMSA Weather
Tech event, the only series stop in Canada, CTMP will host a round in the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. Practice and qualifying for the Street Tuner, Touring Car, and Grand Sport classes in the Continental Tire Series, as well as GT Daytona, GT Le Mans, and Prototype classes for the Weather Tech series, takes place Saturday, as well as the SportsCar Challenge. The main event, the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix, is a twohour, 40-minute timed race starting at 2:05 Sunday.
Castroneves understands he is new to this type of racing, but is also optimistic. He and Taylor have one win (Mid-Ohio) and two podiums to their credit this season.
“I know I’m the rookie, but tell you what. I’m hoping to win for 2018. We’re pushing to the limit and hopefully collect more victories.”
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