Castroneves to make Surfers return

Date published : 27 Jul 2011 - 10:36:13

Helio Castroneves has become the latest driver to sign up for the V8 Supercar round at Surfers Paradise in October. The three-time Indianapolis 500 winner will share one of Stone Brothers Racing's Ford Falcons with Tim Slade at the Gold Coast 600 event, at which every team must run at least one 'international' driver. Catstroneves, who competed at Surfers Paradise five times in Champ Car and IndyCar, also raced in V8s at the circuit last year for the squad. "You never have to ask me twice about racing on the Gold Coast," said the 36-year-old Brazilian. "We loved the place in open wheel cars and to race a V8 Supercar with Tim Slade and the team last year was a great experience. I was delighted when I was asked to come back by team owner James Rosenberg and cannot wait to get back down there. "I have to thank [IndyCar team boss] Roger [Penske\ and everyone at Team Penske for giving me the chance to come back down to Surfers Paradise. Hopefully we can get a few more IndyCar wins under our belt before I get down there in October." Among the other big names to have already signed up for the race are Castroneves' Penske IndyCar team-mates Will Power and Ryan Briscoe, Indy 500 polesitter Alex Tagliani and touring car legends Andy Priaulx and Fabrizio Giovanardi.