Helio Castroneves

Full Name: Helio Castroneves IndyCar Starts: 114 Height/Weight: 5'8" / 147 lbs IndyCar Wins: 14 Birthdate: May 10, 1975 IndyCar Top 5s: 66 Birthplace: Sao Paolo, Brazil IndyCar Poles: 28 Nationality: Brazil Series: IndyCar Team: Team Penske

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[edit] Biography

One of the most exciting drivers in the IndyCar series, Castroneves is known for his energetic interviews and his trademark fence climb upon victories. Because of his victorious appearance on "Dancing with the Stars", Helio is the one of the few open-wheel drivers who have achieved popularity beyond racing.

Castroneves began his American open-wheel career in 1998 with Bettenhausen Racing. He moved to Hogan Racing for 1999. He finished with mixed results; he had a second place finish each season, but finished 17th and 15th in the series standings.

Helio was hired by Team Penske in 2000 after Greg Moore, who had previously signed on to join the team for the season, died in a crash at California Speedway during the last race of '99 season. He quickly became one of CART's elite, scoring wins at Belle Isle, Mid-Ohio, and Laguna Seca.

During the 2001 season, Castroneves and teammate Gil de Ferran ran two IRL races, at Phoenix then the Indianapolis 500. Helio won the 500, and is one of only three drivers (the others being Graham Hill and Juan Pablo Montoya) to win the race in their initial start.

Penske and Castroneves moved from CART to the IRL for 2002. Castroneves finished second in the standings behind future teammate Sam Hornish Jr.

He won his second Indy 500 after a controversial ruling. Late in the race, Paul Tracy passed Castroneves just as the yellow flag waved. Indy Racing League officials ruled that Castroneves was ahead at the moment the caution was called, and was declared the leader as the race ended with a yellow. Despite the controversy, Helio became the first driver to win the 500 in consecutive years since Al Unser in 1970 and 1971. He nearly won an unprecedented third 500, finishing behind only de Ferran in 2003.

Castroneves remained one of IRL/IndyCar's elite drivers, finishing between second and sixth in the series standings. He has yet to win the championship, however. He came closest in 2006, finishing third, two points behind Sam Hornish Jr. and Dan Wheldon.

2007 was a mixed year for Castroneves. Helio set a series record for poles in a season with eight. While he found a way to qualify well, he failed to finish regularly with 5 DNF's.

[edit] Career Highlights

[edit] 1998

• Season High 2nd at Milwaukee

[edit] 2000

• 7th in CART Series points
• Wins at Belle Isle, Mid-Ohio, and Laguna Seca

[edit] 2001

• Won Indianapolis 500
• 4th in Series points
• Wins at Long Beach, Belle Isle, and Mid-Ohio

[edit] 2002

• Won second consecutive Indianapolis 500 in controversial decision. Officials judged that Paul Tracy did not pass Castroneves prior to a caution that would have given Tracy the victory
• Moved from CART to IndyCar
• Finished second in points

[edit] 2003

• Finished third in IndyCar Series points
• Won at St. Louis and Nazareth

[edit] 2004

• Finished fourth in IndyCar series points
• Won at Texas
• Won five poles, including four consecutive (tied for series record)

[edit] 2005

• 6th in Series Championship
• Won at Richmond

[edit] 2006

• Finished 3rd in Points, only two points behind Sam Hornish Jr. and Dan Wheldon
• Won at St. Petersburg, Motegi, Texas, and Michigan

[edit] 2007

• Won at St. Petersburg
• Set Series record for Poles won (seven): St. Petersburg, Motegi, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, and Belle Isle

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[edit] CART Record

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[edit] See Also

• Team Penske

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