The media were instructed by IndyCar not to ask Castroneves questions about his future in the press conference following his Iowa victory last week. So during a Penske driver media availability session at Toronto, Motorsport.com asked the three-time Indy 500 winner if he was allowed yet to be quizzed about his 2018 plans.

The Brazilian veteran, who is just eight points from the lead of the Verizon IndyCar Series championship, responded: “Sure. What do you want to know? You shouldn't ask me. There are people with more power than me actually to make things happen."

On the subject of how difficult he was finding it to maintain focus on trying to win his first ever IndyCar title, he stated: “To be honest, if you start thinking about the future, that's where it starts being distracting, right at this point.

“The only future that I'm thinking about is the race, which is Toronto, which is only one day from now, and right now it's qualifying.

“It's difficult to assume, and right now there is a lot of speculation for sure, and even between when we have some conversations, we're just still on the same page.

“I mean, the team is going to make a sportscar team, and we all here would love to drive. I mean, no question about it. We would like to drive whatever they have an opportunity, like we have in the past. But at the moment, there is no commitment, no official decision, and I'm just focused.

“In my case, I'm just focusing on doing my best for the race here and the championship.”

Pressed on whether he felt the decision regarding his future was in his hands, Castroneves said: “A lot of decisions are… It's not in my hands, or results. Sometimes it's common sense.

“But at this point, I feel that I'm going to do everything I can – if we're in that position – to make it harder for everyone, if there is a decision in the end to change or not.

“To be continued!”