Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and Meyer Shank Racing co-owner Helio Castroneves has ruled out signing Caio Collet for the 2027 IndyCar season. The Brazilian veteran praised the Foyt rookie’s undeniable talent, but conceded that financial backing will play a decisive role in choosing Marcus Armstrong’s teammate. The open seat at Meyer Shank following Felix Rosenqvist’s departure has become a hot commodity in the IndyCar paddock, with drivers bringing up to $15 million in budget for the 2027 seat, GRANDE PRÊMIO has learned. With the series approaching the debut of the IR-28 chassis and a new engine package slated for 2028, teams are actively seeking capital to offset upcoming development costs. “No, not right now [will we sign Collet]. We tried really hard to bring Caio to the team, and his talent is undeniably impressive. But the team still needs certain resources, which weighed a bit heavier than raw talent,” Castroneves said in an interview with Brazilian page Parabólica. “It’s remarkable the amount of funding coming to the table and the opportunities popping up in the United States, and that has carried more weight than pure talent,” he added. Drawing from his extensive IndyCar career spanning back to 2000, Castroneves advised Collet’s management team to secure the best possible option to stay on the grid, leaving the door open for a potential move down the line. “I told his team: focus on wherever you have the best conditions to stay, because being off the grid is the real issue. I’d rather see him stay where he is to keep racing, which could give us an opportunity to sign him in the future,” Castroneves concluded. Round 13 of the 2026 IndyCar season at Portland takes place this Sunday (9), with full coverage from GRANDE PRÊMIO.