Helio Castroneves still feels like he has some things to accomplish in the IndyCar Series so unlike team-mate Sam Hornish, Jr, or Homestead race winner, Dan Wheldon, he is not planning to test the NASCAR waters any time soon.

“It was a topic and the talk of the moment, or at least of the last five years,” said Castroneves who has seriously thought about the subject. “But, I want to accomplish and finish my goals. That means Indianapolis, I know I can still do extremely well and win another one. And the championship that I'm really looking for. So with those accomplishments not being done, I don't want to just stop and go for another challenge, and I prefer to make sure that my time is right, and right now I don't think my time is right to move.”

Castroneves does understand the allure of NASCAR, and is not annoyed by the regularly occurring questions the top IndyCar Series driver's get.

“It doesn't bother me,” he said. “Certainly the reason they talk about it is that (NASCAR) is becoming so popular. ‘Hey, are you interested in going to the most popular series in America?' - It is kind of just natural, you know, a trend I'd have to say.”

That trend is rapid growth for NASCAR at the expense of open wheel racing. A situation Castroneves believes is made worse by having two separate open wheel series.

“My opinion about that, obviously - hopefully - (the) open wheel series will go back the same way it was before,” said Castroneves, the 2001 and 2002 winner of the Indy 500. “Unfortunately, we still have to wait for guys to make the decision and put this thing together.”

Until a merger (or one of the series folding) happens, Castroneves is going to worry about the things he does control and focus his attentions on his own racing. “I'm still facing and still looking at my challenge here and in the future as well, to stay here.”

Castroneves has no trouble speaking of the steep learning curve he would face in making a full-time transition to stock cars, something another former Indy 500 winner, Juan Pablo Montoya, is currently experiencing.

“The most difficult task will be to change completely what I have learned for all my life,” said Castroneves who has only driven stock cars in the International Race of Champions. “A good race car driver, he might take longer or shorter time, but no question, you will come to understand the way to drive. Today it's a very challenging place for open wheel guys, but I'm sure it can be done.”

That said, Castroneves is concentrating his current energies on the 2007 IndyCar Series title.

“My time is right to stay and conquer the championship,” he said. “St. Pete and the rest of the upcoming season is just the beginning but it's very important,” said Castroneves who was only two points from a three way tie for the 2006 title between Wheldon and Hornish. “I have set my mind to collect as (many) points as possible…last year by a few points I lost the championship.”

This gives Castroneves a new style for 2007. “If I have a good car, I'm going to go for it. If I don't have a good car, I'm going to try to finish. I hope with that mentality we are going to accomplish this championship.”

ORS / CAPSIS International