SRX made-for-TV series debuts with Indy 500 winner
Superstar Racing Experience was envisioned as a series for former greats who still had the skills and desire to compete and they would square off in identically prepared cars at six of America’s classic short tracks.
Ray Evernham and Tony Stewart took great care in extending invites to the made-for-TV league they had co-created. They thoughtfully pulled in a a dozen of the most iconic names in modern day motorsports.
Never did they expect the reigning Indianapolis 500 winner to be in the field for the inaugural race.
Helio Castroneves has no full-time job this season so joining SRX was a no-brainer. He does have a six-race IndyCar deal, however, and it included the Indy 500 — the race Stewart tried five times to win before giving up on his childhood dream.
Stewart was there as a spectator two weeks ago when Castroneves shocked the field and became just the fourth four-time Indy 500 winner in the 105-year history of the race. The Brazilian was unable to parlay the victory into a ride at IndyCar’s doubleheader at Detroit this weekend so he will be with SRX at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut when the series goes green Saturday night live on CBS.
“I’m sure we’re all going to have special passes just to be allowed on pit road next to him now that he’s a fourtime winner of the Indy
500,” Stewart said. “His head will be swollen, he’ll be lucky to get that helmet on over that head and we all know how much he loves his hair and wants to protect his hair.
“All joking aside, to be only the fourth four-time winner of the Indianapolis
500 and having him with the SRX Series is all something we are extremely proud of for his accomplishment and we’re excited to bring him back to reality and show him it’s not going to be that easy for the next six weeks.”