UPDATE, 4:15 p.m.: Helio Castroneves will race in IndyCar's Long Beach Grand Prix this weekend.
This just in from the AP wire:
MIAMI (AP) — A jury has acquitted Indy race car driver Helio Castroneves of tax evasion but remained hung on a count of conspiracy. Jurors deliberated for six days before reaching their verdict on Friday.
Castroneves has twice won the Indianapolis 500, and was also champ of TV’s “Dancing With The Stars” in 2007. His sister and business manager, Katiucia Castroneves, was also acquitted on the tax evasion counts and the jury also remained hung on the conspiracy count. His Michigan lawyer, Alan Miller, was acquitted on the conspiracy count and three counts of tax evasion.
The three were accused of conspiring to evade millions in taxes over a five-year period. They had faced up to six years in prison.
Castroneves, speaking in his native Portuguese, expressed profound relief.
“I just want to thank God, and my fans, and all of the people who prayed for me,” he said outside the courtroom, still fingering a rosary.
“It has been a very difficult place to be in,” he said, but added that his faith had seen him through. He said he planned to leave Friday night for Los Angeles.