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Racing News: Penske Names Castroneves Replacement

WELCOME ABOARD: Team Penske Racing welcomed Australian Will Power to its team early this week. Power will help the team replace Helio Castroneves as it prepares for the new season while Castroneves is preparing for his highly publicized trial on tax evasion. If Castroneves is available, he will drive the No. 3 in races.

THE TITUS: Tony Schumacher added another award, claiming the Jerry Titus Memorial Trophy presented by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association. It was the second time Schumacher has won the group’s driver of the year honor in the past three seasons.

KEEPING BUSY: While he is focusing on other racing interests, former NASCAR team owner Ray Evernham, who still owns 20% of Gillett Evernham Motorsports, says he has little to do with the operation of the team. He is contractually obligated as a consultant to the team, but said recently if he were a free agent, he knows who he’d want to help. “If I was going to help somebody, for sure it would be Jeff Gordon,” said Evernham, who led Gordon to three of his four Cup championships.

MERGING: Gillett Evernham Motorsports (GEM) and Petty Holdings are in the final stages of a merger that will bring veteran team owner Richard Petty, the winningest driver in NASCAR history, into the ownership structure at GEM.

SIGNED: Mario Moraes has signed to drive the KV Racing entry in the IndyCar Series this season. Moraes drove for Dale Coyne Racing last year.

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