Trial date will not be postponed for Castroneves

Nov 14, 2008 - 8:36 PM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Helio Castroneves still has to stand trial on March 2.

U.S. District Judge Donald Graham on Friday rejected requests by Castroneves' lawyers and Penske Racing Inc. to delay the tax evasion trial until November to ensure the driver could compete in the 2009 IndyCar Series that runs from April to October.

Graham set the trial date on Monday.

Castroneves, his sister and a Michigan lawyer, pleaded innocent on October 3 to allegations that he failed to report millions of dollars in income to the Internal Revenue Service.

The 33-year-old is free on $10 million bail.

The famed Brazilian driver was indicted on charges of conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion for purportedly failing to report to the IRS about $5.5 million in income between 1999 and 2004. Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Also indicted were Castroneves' sister and business manager, Katiucia, and attorney Alan R. Miller.

According to the indictment, the the trio used an offshore corporation set up in Panama to pull off the tax evasion scheme.

Castroneves won the Indianapolis 500 in 2001 and 2002, becoming the fifth driver to achieve the feat in consecutive years. He finished second to Team Penske teammate and countryman Gil de Ferran in 2003.

Castroneves gained American fame last year after winning the fifth season of ABC's reality television show "Dancing with the Stars" with partner Julianne Hough.