One in series of season previews source: indycar.com / by indycar.com staff If preseason testing is any indication, Marlboro Team Penske may be the biggest beneficiary from a switch to Honda Indy V-8 engines this season. Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish Jr. ranked near the top of the time charts during each of the practice days, with Castroneves being the most consistent performer of each day. The team takes that momentum into the 2006 season with the goal of giving team owner Roger Penske his first IndyCar Series championship. "The start of a season always marks a new beginning with a clean slate," Castroneves said. "We've worked very hard the last few years, and hopefully, it will all come together and pay off this season. " Hornish finished third in points last season with victories on the 1-mile ovals at Milwaukee and Phoenix. The two-time IndyCar Series champion said he feels like he has all the tools necessary to win his third season title. "With the addition of Honda horsepower, I feel very confident that we'll be competing for wins and the championship right off the bat," he said. " I'm looking forward to another great season with Marlboro Team Penske. I know the cars will be reliable, the pit stops will be great, and hopefully, with a little bit of luck, we'll end the season with a championship." Castroneves, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, said he's looking forward to Indianapolis, where he'll try to become a three-time winner of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." And, like Hornish, he sees himself as a title contender. "I'm definitely optimistic about our competitiveness in 2006," he said. "I think if Marlboro Team Penske works hard all year, we'll be in good shape for the championship. There are so many good drivers in this series, it won't be easy, but that is what makes winning all the better."
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