Indy 500 winners Castroneves, Kanaan face uncertain futures

Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves watched from afar as NASCAR stars Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart retired and Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced that he will step away after the season.

Castroneves is far from jealous. But he is definitely curious.

After all, there’s no denying that Castroneves and fellow 42-year-old IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan are in the backstretch of their racing careers. Although no one is questioning their driving ability, age is always a factor in regards to sponsorship, so this could be their final Indy 500.

Neither expects that to be the case, but they are realistic and understand the inevitable is coming sooner rather than later.

Castroneves, one of open-wheel racing’s biggest stars, wants desperately to win another Indy 500 before calling it quits. The Penske Racing fixture is looking to tie A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, A.J. Fort and Al Unser Sr. as the only four-time race winners.

“We don’t want to think about anything in terms of hanging up the shoes or the steering wheel. We want to keep going until we achieve everything,” Castroneves said.

“But you always look at what’s next and who’s doing what and what’s going to happen to you.”

Castroneves acknowledged that walking would be even tougher if he won a fourth Indy 500. The push then to become the first driver with five would be too great a challenge to give up.

“I don’t think you can plan those situations very well,” Castroneves said. “I think it has to happen in the spur in the moment.”

Kanaan’s exit appears to be even more imminent. Earlier this season, team owner Chip Ganassi was noncommittal about Kanaan’s future, saying only that IndyCar’s Ironman has a future within the organization.

“I understand a lot of the situation it becomes sponsorship, and sometimes when you get to a certain age, the team has got to look for its own interest,” Kanaan said. “I’ve always said I am a professional race car driver and not always have raced where I wanted to race. But I am up for anything, and I still feel like I can deliver here. If I can, I would like to stay.

“But it’s more than my choice, especially with the way sponsorship is these days. I am actually fortunate to drive for an organization that has different options. We haven’t talked about it; I think it’s a little early in the year to do so. But I can tell you one thing: I am not ready to say goodbye to IndyCar right now. But it’s not in my control.”