Roger Penske expected to announce Helio Castroneves’ fate

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Roger Penske’s IndyCar Series team called a news conference for Tuesday amid speculation that the team will announce a replacement driver for Helio Castroneves for 2009.

Castroneves, a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, was indicted last October on federal tax-evasion charges and faces a trial scheduled to start March 2. The Brazilian has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Team Penske, without providing details, said it would discuss its plans for the 2009 season at the news conference at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But Roger Penske told The Times in November that he might have to find a new driver for Castroneves’ No. 3 car if the trial could not be delayed until after the IndyCar season.

Castroneves’ ride is considered one of the most coveted in motor sports in light of Penske’s strong record in the IndyCar Series, including 14 Indy 500 victories alone. Penske’s other IndyCar driver is Ryan Briscoe.

-- Jim Peltz

Helio Castroneves, seen here between practice laps on Aug. 22 at the IndyCar Series race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., a race that he won. Credit: Ben Margot / Associated Press