By Paul Kelly
indy500.com
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. and his Penske Racing teammate, two-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, will drive for Michael Shank Racing in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
Hornish and Castroneves will join 2006 Rolex 24 runners-up Oswaldo Negri Jr. and Mark Patterson in the No. 60 Michael Shank Racing Lexus Riley for the famed 24-hour endurance classic Jan. 27-28 at Daytona International Speedway.
"I'm extremely happy that I will be with this team for the 24-hour race," Castroneves said. "I've been trying to do this race for a few years now and to be able to compete on the same team as my good friend (Negri), and for such a good team owner in Mike, it's unique. It will be the first time that I won't try to beat Sam in a race. Actually, it will be the first time I'll be rooting for him."
2001-02 Indianapolis 500 winner Castroneves will make his first appearance in the race, while Hornish raced in the 1999 Rolex 24 with Intersport Racing in a car owned by Shank.
"Winning the Rolex 24 At Daytona would be a great way to kick off the 2007 season," Hornish said. "The list of people that have won the Rolex 24 and the Indianapolis 500 is pretty short. It would be pretty special if Helio and I were able to add our names to that list."
If three-time IndyCar Series champion Hornish wins the Rolex 24, he will become the seventh driver to win the Rolex 24, Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series championship. Earlier this year, 2006 Indy 500 and IndyCar Series champion Dan Wheldon became the first driver to win all three titles in less than a year when he co-drove the No. 02 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley to the overall Rolex 24 victory with IndyCar Series teammate Scott Dixon and Allstate 400 at the Brickyard veteran Casey Mears.
Centennial INDY 500 Winners Stein
Centennial 2009 Indianapolis 500 28 oz. Winners Stein.
Castroneves turned his first laps in the Shank Racing Lexus Riley on Nov. 7 at Daytona. Hornish is expected to participate in test sessions Dec. 5-6 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Jan. 4-6 at Daytona.
"I'm having a great time," Castroneves said. "(The car) is awesome. It's not as easy as I would have expected it to be, and it's going to take more time to get used to it. Fortunately, I have good teammates that are helping me understand the car. I only did 10 laps before it started raining, and I hope the rain stops so I can get back out there. If not, I'll come back in January and figure it out."
***
2007 Indianapolis 500 tickets: Tickets are on sale for the 91st Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Sunday, May 27, 2007.
Tickets can be purchased at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Web site, www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, by phone or at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Ticket Office. The IMS Ticket Office can be contacted at (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or (317) 492-6700 locally. Ticket Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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