CASTRONEVES TO IMSA AS KANAAN GETS FOYT RIDE

THREE-TIME INDIANAPOLIS 500 winner Helio Castroneves will make a full-time switch to the IMSA Sportscar Championship with Team Penske next season, while his fellow Brazilian veteran Tony Kanaan has earned a stay in the Indycar ranks by joining AJ Foyt Racing after being dropped by Chip

Ganassi Racing.

Penske had already confirmed Juan Pablo Montoya and Dane Cameron in one of its two new Acura DPI cars, but postponed talks with Castroneves until after this year’s Indycar season was over.

“Helio has been a valuable member of Team Penske for almost 20 years,and we are looking forward to sharing more success together,” said team owner Roger Penske. “Competitors like Helio, Rick Mears and Mark Donohue are what have made Team Penske what it is today.”

Over 20 years in Indycars, Castroneves took 30 wins, 54 pole positions, and finished inside the top five in the championship 14 times.

His 30th win, scored at Iowa Speedway this season, meant he surpassed Mears as Penske’s most successful driver.

Kanaan’s multi-year deal at Foyt is for the famed #14 car, where the 2004 champion replaces Carlos Munoz, although it is understood that Munoz and Conor Daly are both in play for the #4 seat.

“If I can have a person like AJ to help me, even at this point of my career, it’s awesome,” said Kanaan.

“He’s a legend.”