Indy Driver Castroneves Acquitted in Tax Case

In this file photo, Helio Castroneves is seen during practice for the IndyCar Series Peak Antifreeze...

In this file photo, Helio Castroneves is seen during practice for the IndyCar Series Peak Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. A jury has acquitted Indy race car driver Castroneves of tax evasion but remained hung on a count of conspiracy.

(Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

Brazilian race car driver and "Dancing With The Stars" champ Helio Castroneves was acquitted Friday of most charges that he worked with his sister and lawyer to evade more than $2.3 million in U.S. income taxes. A federal jury acquitted Castroneves on six counts of tax evasion but hung on one count of conspiracy. When the sentence was read, Castroneves broke into sobs and leaned against his attorneys for support.

The jury also acquitted Katiucia Castroneves, 35, who is her 33-year-old brother's business manager, on the tax evasion counts but also hung on the conspiracy. Michigan motorsports attorney Alan Miller, 71, was acquitted on all three counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy. The jury deliberated six days after a six-week trial.

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.

Related

Get Your Dance on with Video Game

Can Helio Dance Out of Tax Charges?

WATCH: Cameron Mathison Takes on Ballet

A few moments later, Castroneves said that he can't wait to suit up for this weekend's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

"Instead of going to Disneyland, I want to go to Long Beach to race," he said. "I'm going back to racing."

He said he planned to leave Friday night for Los Angeles, where he will race for Team Penske.

Penske officials did not immediately offer a response, but planned to hold a news conference later in the afternoon.

All three faced more than six years in prison if convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion between 1999 and 2004. The case mainly revolved around income from a $2 million sponsorship deal Castroneves had with the Brazilian firm Coimex and his $5 million licensing deal he reached with Penske Racing in late 1999.

Alicia Valle, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office, said prosecutors will review all of the options on the hung conspiracy charge "to determine how best to proceed."

Castroneves' lawyers said it would be "illogical to proceed" with refiling the conspiracy count.