Is this Castroneves' final Indycar season?

Helio Castroneves has been chasing an IndyCar championship for 20 years but the 42-year-old veteran only has seven races remaining to add that elusive gem to his resume because his full-time days are most likely coming to an end.

RACER has learned that Team Penske will move Castroneves to its new Honda Daytona Prototype international sportscar team in 2018 but continue to field a car at the Indianapolis 500 for the three-time winner.

"I've heard that same rumor," said Tim Cindric, president of Penske Performance, on Saturday morning from Iowa Speedway. "Obviously it looks like the sportscar thing is going to happen and we're close to finalizing that deal but as for the drivers I wouldn't say anything is set in stone yet."

And it's got nothing to do with performance because the popular Brazilian currently ranks third in the Verizon IndyCar Series standings – only 37 points behind leader Scott Dixon – and is having a strong season with three pole positions, two podiums and a pair of fourth places.

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"I've heard rumors but I haven't talked to Roger (Penske) and all I know is that I will be with Team Penske next year and I know I will have a job, I'm very happy to say that," said Castroneves, who came within a couple car lengths of winning Indy last May. "I want to stay in IndyCar and I'll do everything I can but obviously it's not my decision."

Castroneves, who makes his 338th start Sunday evening, owns 29 wins, 50 poles and has finished runner-up four times in the championship since joining Penske in 2000.

"I'm going to do everything I can to win this championship and give them a difficult choice," he said with a grin. "But either way it's a good spot to be in."

It had been rumored all season that Penske was going to cut back to three cars in 2018 and he'll likely run five at Indy with Juan Pablo Montoya and Castroneves.