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SPORTS Thursday 5 OcTOber 2017
Castroneves to move to Team Penske sports car program

By JENNA FRYER for Team Penske at the In- what it is today. This repre-
AP Auto Racing Writer dianapolis 500. That race is sents a new challenge for
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — near and dear to my heart him and I know he is excit-
Three-time Indianapolis 500 and trying to become the ed about the opportunity.”
winner Helio Castroneves is fourth four-time winner is Castroneves is considered
done racing full-time in the something I really want to one of IndyCar’s all-time
IndyCar Series. accomplish in my career. greats, and he has been
The youth movement of- “We’ve come so close the the cornerstone of the Pen-
ficially hit IndyCar on last few years and with this ske operation. He has more
Wednesday when Team team, I know we will have victories than any other
Penske said it was mov- a great opportunity to try Penske driver and two of
ing Castroneves to its new and make some history.” his Indy 500 victories came
sports car program next Castroneves will join Juan in his first two starts at Indy,
season. Pablo Montoya, Dane in 2001 and 2002.
The decision, expected all Cameron and a driver yet He last won at Indianapo-
year, brings to an end the to be identified in the two- lis in 2009 and he’s finished
full-time IndyCar career car Acura Team Penske second two times over the
of one of the series’ most program that will race next last four seasons. Castro-
popular drivers. Castro- year in the IMSA SportsCar neves has also made five
neves has been a 20-year Championship. starts for Team Penske in In this May 24, 2009, file photo, Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, holds
staple on the circuit and Penske has not set pairings sports car competition. He up three fingers after winning his third Indianapolis 500 auto
the popular Brazilian has for each car, or named ad- won two poles, had three race, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind.
worldwide fame for his rac- ditional drivers for endur- podium finishes and a class Associated Press
ing accomplishments, exu- ance races. victory in the 2008 Petit Le troneves, he’ll now be fo- and everyone with Acura
berant personality and win Castroneves will race this Mans event. cused on launching the start this program and build
on ABC’s “Dancing With weekend with Montoya Penske has been working new program. it from the ground up will be
The Stars” program. and Simon Pagenaud at on the sports car program Montoya, a two-time In- another big challenge and
Castroneves will still drive the Petit Le Mans at Road all year and has not hidden dianapolis 500 winner, will a great opportunity in my
for Penske at the Indianap- Atlanta. that idea that he’d move not return to the Penske career,” Castroneves said.
olis 500 next May. “Helio has been a valuable Castroneves. program next year at Indy, “I am proud of everything
“I’ve been fortunate to member of Team Penske for A year ago, he bumped though the Colombian can we have accomplished
achieve a lot of my person- almost 20 years and we are Montoya out of his IndyCar always seek another ride. together in IndyCar and
al goals with Team Penske looking forward to sharing seat to sign Josef Newgar- Castroneves instead will now I am focused on help-
over the years,” said Cas- more success together,” den, who rewarded Pen- get that seat, and Penske ing to develop the ARX-05
troneves, the longest-ten- Penske said. “Competitors ske with the series title last will field four cars for the to try and win the 24 Hours
ured driver in Penske histo- like Helio, Rick Mears and month. 500 but only three in full- of Daytona and the IMSA
ry. “I’m also excited to get Mark Donohue are what Montoya is still with the or- time IndyCar competition. championship in 2018 with
a chance to race again have made Team Penske ganization, but like Cas- “Helping Roger, the team Acura.”q

ESPN acquires U.S. television rights for Formula 1

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — ment to motorsports, and
Formula One will return Formula 1 is a crown jewel
to its original U.S. televi- in the sport,” Burke Mag-
sion partner with a move nus, ESPN executive vice
next season to ESPN.All 21 president of program-
events will be televised ming & scheduling, said in
next year on ABC, ESPN or a statement Wednesday.
ESPN2, with the new deal “There are many passion-
calling for more than 125 ate Formula 1 fans in the
hours of F1 programming. U.S. and we look forward
The first F1 race aired in the to bringing the pageantry,
U.S. on ABC in 1962 when spectacle and excitement
highlights of the Monaco of F1 to viewers across the
Grand Prix aired on ABC’s ESPN platform.”Monaco
“Wide World of Sports” one will air live on May 27 on
week after the race.“ESPN ESPN and re-air later in the
has had a long commit- day on ABC after the In-

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain leads the field into turn one at the start of the Malaysian
Formula One Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017.
Associated Press

dianapolis 500. The United which the rights holder itself point last year. Monaco on
States Grand Prix in Austin, competes with us and our NBC averaged 1.444 million
Texas, and the Mexican distribution partners.”NBC viewers, which stands as
Grand Prix will be live on said through 14 races this the second-most watched
ABC.NBC Sports Group had year, the 2017 season F1 race for NBCSG behind
the F1 rights since 2013, but has drawn an average of the 2014 Canadian Grand
said it “chose not to enter 548,000 viewers— up 13 Prix on NBC. That averaged
into a new agreement in percent from the same 1.488 million viewers.q