Various embodiments provide systems and methods for controlling a catheter with a catheter positioning device by using a remote controller and a guidewire control mechanism that may be used to draw a guidewire through a catheter coupled with the catheter positioning system. As the catheter is advanced over the guidewire by the catheter positioning device, the guidewire control mechanism may draw the guidewire away, such as collecting any slack on the guidewire. In further embodiments, the guidewire control mechanism may match the speed at which the guidewire is drawn to the speed at which the catheter advances and thereby maintain the position of the guidewire relative to the patient.