HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- There was the typical air of optimism and eagerness at Homestead-Miami Speedway as the IndyCar Series teams gathered Tuesday for their first official day of testing for the 2009 season.

Yet something didn't feel quite right. One of the series' brightest personalities was noticeably absent from the paddock and press conferences.

Instead of shaking down his famous No. 3 Penske Racing Honda, two-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, 33, is spending the week a few miles away at his Miami home -- preparing to go to trial Monday on federal tax evasion charges.

IRL Revving Up Without Castroneves originally appeared on Backporch FanHouse on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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