Meyer Shank Racing has announced that its veteran driver Helio Castroneves will return for another full season next year.
Castroneves joined the team for a one-race deal to run the Indianapolis 500 in 2021, a race which he ended up winning in dramatic fashion.
The historic victory was the Brazilian’s fourth Indy 500 victory, which tied him for the all-time record with three other greats of the sport. It also helped to secure a return to a full schedule with MSR this season.
The 47-year-old has now been retained for another year, and will drive the #06 entry in 2023 as well. By time the end of that season rolls around, he will be nearing an incredible 400 races run over a 27 year career in a top-level series.
“Keeping Helio onboard wasn’t really a question for us,” said team co-owner Mike Shank. “We’ve built a really strong relationship with him over these last two race seasons.
“He brings so much to the table, on and off the track. He’s been able to help us grow as a team and we’ve been able to learn from his years of experience. It’s truly a mutually beneficial relationship.
“And of course he’s a perfect face of the sport and has such an infectious personality, so to have him on our team is an honor.”
Castroneves only ran select IndyCar races from 2018 through 2021, as he had taken up more sportscar duties with Team Penske in IMSA.
Now he has firmly switched focus back to IndyCar, and is working to gain back his form that has delivered him 31 wins throughout his career.
Castroneves has scored three top 10s in the 2022 season so far, and currently sits 18th in the championship standings. He will look to improve on those results next season as well as continue his ‘Drive for Five’ campaign to attempt to earn a record fifth Indy 500 title.
