Racing legend brushes Tom Brady comparison

1 year ago 54

Four-time Indianapolis 500 victor Helio Castroneves says helium would alternatively not deliberation astir the anticipation of a Tom Brady-esque status immoderate clip soon.

That's contempt the looming menace posed by Tom Blomqvist, who is waiting successful the wings arsenic a replacement for the Brazilian successful the twilight of his career.

Castroneves remains 1 of the champion drivers successful the IndyCar Series to person ne'er won the title. However, his 4 Indianapolis 500 triumphs marque him 1 of the all-time greats.

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Both Castroneves and Blomqvist vie with Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) successful the IndyCar Series and IMSA Sports Car Championship respectively.

Born successful the United Kingdom, raised successful New Zealand, and the lad of Sweden's rally large Stig Blomqvist, the 29-year-old is successful the premix to yet regenerate Castroneves.

Winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, Petit Le Mans, and the IMSA Sports Car Championship successful 2022 thrust him into the spotlight and was subsequently fixed an IndyCar trial disconnected the backmost of that success.

With Castroneves successful the last twelvemonth of his contract, each signs constituent towards Blomqvist being the team's suitor, but the incumbent isn't keen to bargain into the speech excessively much.

"First of all, it's excessively aboriginal to say," said Castroneves.

"Second, I don't privation thing much than large things for this team. This squad is incredible.

"They already stamped that they're not conscionable a tiny team. They stamped that they're an unthinkable team, that things astonishing astir to hap successful the future.

"Tom, travel on, the kid is simply a superstar. He's truly quick. H's doing an astonishing job. Last twelvemonth helium did a large job; this twelvemonth continued doing it.

"Let's see. Everything happens and falls natural. But arsenic of close now, it's excessively aboriginal successful the play to foretell and deliberation what's going to happen.

"Our extremity is to person a phenomenal effect with MSR truthful that we tin amusement what this squad is capable."

Castroneves is the oldest full-time operator connected the grid astatine 47.

He'd similar to deliberation his caller signifier astatine Daytona wherever helium won alongside Simon Pagenaud, Colin Braun, and Blomqvist would beryllium capable to support him successful the seat.

"I conscionable won Daytona, bash you deliberation I'm reasoning retiring close now? There isn't a thought of that," helium said.

"Also the aforesaid thing, it repeats. It has to consciousness natural. I can't unit myself. I can't enactment a fig oregon day that I tin accidental this is it.

"As of close now, I americium enjoying precise overmuch what I'm doing. I'm astir to commencement a large play with IndyCar, and my caput is lone reasoning astir that.

"I'm conscionable going to proceed moving and get that effect that I truly want, that I cognize I'm susceptible and I cognize what the squad is capable.

"Whatever happens successful the aboriginal remains to beryllium seen.

"Someone told me, comparing maine and Tom Brady this year," helium added.

"I'm telling the communicative due to the fact that helium didn't triumph the Super Bowl.

"I'm like, 'whoa, whoa, don't comparison maine now'. That's the benignant of scenario. The feline tin discontinue and travel backmost if helium wants astatine immoderate time.

"Unfortunately it's not similar that successful our sport. We request a team, we request a car. But yes, he's incredible."

Castroneves made his IndyCar debut successful 1998 and raced with Team Penske from 2000 to 2017.

Castroneves stepped distant from full-time driving with Team Penske successful 2018 and reduced his docket to the Indianapolis 500 and curtain raiser connected the roadworthy course.

He was near disconnected of Team Penske's books aft 2020, near to find a thrust elsewhere.

He landed astatine Meyer Shank Racing successful 2021 wherever helium won a record-equalling 4th Indianapolis 500 win.

The daze triumph propelled him backmost into the bid full-time with the aforesaid team. However, it's been a pugnacious slog since.

In his archetypal play back, helium coiled up 18th successful the bid standings and scored conscionable 3 apical 10 finishes.

Castroneves said helium has to amended successful 2023 if helium wishes to clasp his spot for 2024.

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