INDIANAPOLIS — On Friday Meyer Shank Racing unveiled that Helio Castroneves will become a minority owner in the team. Castroneves is the first NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver to move into a role of this magnitude.

“We’re also pleased in the arrangement we’ve been working out with Helio, Helio will be joining our ownership group as well as a minority partner, which I think is the first in a long, long time a driver coming into the ownership group,” said Jim Meyer during the press conference. “Obviously Mike (Shank) and I have the majority position in our company. Liberty Media, which was a really great thing for us we announced a couple years ago, now having Helio is terrific. We’re really, really thrilled on that.”

In NASCAR, Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski have each ventured into the driver-owner role with a vision on their future. Castroneves has now done the same.

“This is another chapter in my career,” he says. “I want to be very clear: I am not retiring, okay? I just want to make sure people understand that. Actually my line is open now to do other series. I can do SRX, IMSA, NASCAR, Stockcar Brazil, whatever the lines ring.

“Obviously the main focus INDYCAR, in my role, as Jim just alluded to, is different hats, and also Drive for 5. I still have a lot of fire inside me, a lot of energy that I want to burn, but now I’m going to focus that burn in the Indy 500.”

Castroneves says that he’s had an eye on ownership for a while. He’s learned and watch what Roger Penske had over there. He’s learned from Shank and Meyer. He’s hopeful to turn that into a successful ownership role beginning next season.

“I’m learning a lot over the years with Mike and Jim, to be honest,” he said. “I learn a lot in my racing career. I’ve seen a lot incredible, especially my mentor, Roger Penske. It is different. It is something that I’m going to continue learning. I don’t think we know everything.

“The best part for me is being on the driver’s side, I might be able to be able to protect a little bit of that side in case we come to discussion.

“However, I’m willing to understand the other side as a team owner as how to manage all the areas that I normally been in the other side. It will be extremely a learning curve, but I’m willing to do everything it takes to continue this evolution for MSR.

“When the opportunity presented itself, I decided there was no reason for not to be here. I’m still very competitive, don’t get me wrong, but there’s so much you can stretch that.

“When opportunity knocks on the door, you just can all of a sudden say, No, no, I’ll wait. It’s not you that decided when making the opportunity. If the opportunity happens, you got to decide it is now or never. That’s why I was very fortunate to have everyone, the whole entire group, in favor.

“It’s not easy. I know Mike gave his life to becoming a team owner. I know how hard it is. I’ve seen it. Obviously I’ve been on the other side. That’s why I’m very grateful and honored to have Jim and Mike and the whole Liberty group to be accept me in this position.”

A day later, fireworks went off. Alex Palou has reportedly told Arrow McLaren Racing that he’s not coming over to them in 2024 after all. Zak Brown took a dig at Palou and feels like he has a deal with him and is willing to pursue legal action if need be.

Chip Ganassi Racing, who usually never comments on driver contracts, remarkably did in a rare statement on the manner on race morning for Saturday’s Gallagher Grand Prix.

It’s clear, there’s a war between the two sides. They don’t like each other and it’s getting spicy.

Then, a day after that, Rick Hendrick, Kyle Larson and Gavin Ward were on hand to unveil Larson’s liveries for the 500-600 double next Memorial Day weekend. Hendrick will team with that same McLaren team for an Indy 500 venture.

There’s a potential for Hendrick Motorsports to grow even further into this series as he never does anything half assed. There’s always a vision for the future and INDYCAR could be a potential destination for them to grow into.

That could give INDYCAR some much needed fresh blood.