INDIANAPOLIS – For almost a year now, the future of one of IndyCar's most beloved and recognizable superstars has been the subject of constant speculation and rumor. Entering next week's 2017 season finale at Sonoma, not much has changed. Few know for sure whether Helio Castroneves will be driving his familiar Team Penske No. 3 Chevrolet next year or if he'll have moved on to a different series.

Most believe the championship-deciding race at Sonoma will be the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner’s final race as a full-season driver before joining Juan Pablo Montoya in Roger Penske’s reinvigorated sports car program.

Castroneves, it appears, believes that to be the case as well, but the 20-year IndyCar veteran is not giving up hope he can change his boss’s mind.

“We have a gentleman’s agreement,” the popular Brazilian driver told IndyStar on Friday. “Let’s put it this way, nothing is official. Nothing is written or anything like that. ... They understand my feelings, but I still have the feeling that I can change things around depending on the result.”

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That sounds as though Castroneves’ first choice is to remain a full-season IndyCar driver, but that Penske has other plans for him. However, if Castroneves — just 22 points back of championship leader Josef Newgarden — can win his first IndyCar crown at Sonoma, he might be able to stave off Penske's plans for at least one more year.

This is not the first time Castroneves has spoke this way about his future. Nearly two months ago in Toronto, Castroneves said he was doing everything he can to “make it harder for everyone” if there was a decision to be made.

On Friday, however, Castroneves said that no matter what happens, as long as he remains in the Penske family, he'll be happy.

“I just enjoy being part of the organization,” said Castroneves, who first joined Penske in 2000. “And it sounds like they’re happy to keep me around (laughs). So it’s a win-win situation.”

If Castroneves moves on to the sports car team, Penske is not expected to replace him, but instead go forward as a three-car team. It is also expected that Castroneves would return to an Indy car next May for the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500, where he could again try to join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and his mentor, Rick Mears, as the race's only four-time winners.

Follow IndyStar Motor Sports Insider Jim Ayello on Twitter and Instagram: @jimayello.