Sports

Race-car driver and Dancing With the Stars winner Helio Castroneves pleaded not guilty Friday to federal tax evasion charges and said outside the Miami courtroom that he would treat the case like a race against the Internal Revenue Service.

"I'm a race-car driver," the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner told reporters. "This is a very difficult situation. I'll be strong and I'll win this race."

Castroneves, 33, spoke after his release on $10 million bail following a court appearance in which he was shackled in handcuffs and leg chains and was visibly weeping into a wad of white tissue. Outside, Castroneves acknowledged that he was overwhelmed by the weight of the moment.

"It's been a long day. It's been an emotional day, obviously," he said. "I am not guilty."

A grand jury on Thursday indicted Castroneves on charges of conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion for purportedly failing to report to the IRS about $5.5 million in income between 1999 and 2004, according to court documents. Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.