Team Penske to replace two-time Indy 500 champion Castroneves

By Bruce Martin, SI.com

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Helio Castroneves, a two-time Indy 500 winner and one of the most colorful drivers in IndyCar Series history, will be replaced on Tuesday when Team Penske announces its driver lineup for 2009.

Castroneves was indicted on income tax evasion in October, and while team owner Roger Penske and president Tim Cindric stood behind their driver, it has become increasingly difficult to have a competitive effort with a driver about to go to trial.

Justin Wilson of England, Will Power of Australia, Ryan Hunter-Reay of the United States and Romain Dumas of France are among the drivers expected to take Castroneves' place in the No. 3 car. It will mark the first time since 2000, when Castroneves was given that ride after Greg Moore was killed in the 1999 CART season-finale at California Speedway, that the likeable Brazilian driver has not been part of the team.

During his stay at Penske, Castroneves became one of the most recognizable names in a series that lags far behind NASCAR in terms of household names in the United States. He became the first driver in 30 years to win the Indianapolis 500 two years in a row when he drove to victory in 2001 and 2002.

Castroneves' personality transcended the sport and earned him an appearance on ABC's Dancing with the Stars in 2007. He went on to win the highly-rated celebrity ballroom dance competition and became an entertainment celebrity, opening the world of IndyCar racing to a new audience.

He was able to back it up on the race track, chasing Scott Dixon all the way to the final race of the 2008 season before losing the IndyCar Series championship.

But just when Castroneves was at the zenith of his career, the federal indictment on income tax evasion in October signaled the end of his tenure at Team Penske.

Ryan Briscoe of Australia will remain the driver of the No. 6 entry at Team Penske.