-
Home
-
Latest Headlines
-
- TV Shows
- TV Schedule
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
-
Latest Headlines: Moto-Racing
-
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
IndyCar
INDYCAR: Castroneves Turning Back The Clock
15 years into his Indy car career, Helio Castroneves is blending the speed from his youth and lessons he's learned as a veteran to chase his first title.
Helio Castroneves has been incredibly focused this year, and has also tapped into the speed that marked him as a future champion when he joined the Indy car ranks in 1998. (Photo: Marshall Pruett)
With an Indy car career that dates back to 1998, Helio Castroneves couldn’t help but smile after his most recent win at Edmonton when he was reminded that, technically, he’s in his third decade of Indy car competition.
“I guess [at Edmonton] when I saw Dario [Franchitti] and [Alex Tagliani], I said to them, I think the good old boys is still pushing,” said Castroneves. “I guess the fire is still inside. I won't stop. I will keep going as long as I can.”
At 37 years old, the age-defying Brazilian has achieved more success than all but one of his contemporaries, and although he shares the same number of Indy 500 wins (three) with Franchitti, Castroneves finds himself at a place where he can fix the one glaring omission from his resume.
In 15 combined years of CART and IndyCar Series competition—13 of those with Roger Penske—Castroneves has amassed more than 20 wins and 30 poles to go with his trio of Indy 500 wins, but the individual title that matters most, becoming the IZOD IndyCar Series champion, has proved to be elusive.
The São Paulo native came close on two occasions, earning runner-up positions to Sam Hornish in 2002 and Scott Dixon in 2008, and now finds himself in familiar territory. Just 23 points back from championship leader Ryan Hunter-Reay as the series heads into Mid-Ohio this weekend, Castroneves views it as the start a four-race, six-week sprint to the season finale and possibly his first title.
“To be honest, every time I show up to the track, I want to win the race,” Castroneves said of his enduring hunger. “If I win those races, it will put me in a spot to win the championship. We’re getting close, but there’s still four more races. I’m still not thinking about it too much because there’s 200 points left to get in the game. And that’s a lot. It can go in so many directions. My experience says it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.”
Castroneves was just 22 years old when he made his Indy car debut at the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami in March of 1998, and along with Franchitti and his former teammate Tony Kanaan, the three remain as the only active Indy car drivers who participated in the event.
Since then, Franchitti has earned four IndyCar Series titles (2007, 2009-2011) and Kanaan earned his lone championship in 2004, leaving Castroneves as the final member of the class in need of an IndyCar crown.
With more days behind him than ahead of him in the sport, Castroneves is aware the clock is ticking on his chances to win a championship, but says he isn’t letting it alter his approach to the job.
“For me, my attitude is that it doesn’t add any more pressure or take [any pressure] away knowing where I’m at,” he remarked. “It does feel great to be in this place because you can fight with those guys with the same [championship] opportunity. If you’re going for it, they’re also going to be thinking about points and asking themselves if it’s worth risking it or not.
"In my position, I know what it takes to get close [to a championship], but I don’t know what it takes to win, and that’s what I want to find out in the last races of the season.”
Castroneves’ win at Edmonton, his second of the year after winning the season-opening race at St. Petersburg, vaulted him ahead of Team Penske teammate Will Power in the standings. Despite the slim three-point deficit, being demoted to third in the championship certainly caught the Aussie’s attention.
“Yeah, he's stronger than ever this year,” Power said of Castroneves. “He's been really consistent on days that he can't win. When he can win, he absolutely executes. Helio is definitely doing a good job. He's going to be tough to beat.”
If there’s been one aspect of Castroneves’ 2012 season that has stood out more than others, it has been the remarkable speed he’s demonstrated at most rounds. Upon his arrival at Team Penske, Power became the man to beat, with 30-year-old Ryan Briscoe, pilot of Penske’s No. 2 entry, close behind.
Briscoe’s impressive Indy 500 pole position notwithstanding, Castroneves has taken firm control of the second place on Penske’s depth chart and has done it with a mix of pace and poise. Once he took the lead from Tagliani at Edmonton, Castroneves’ speed was too much for the rapid Takuma Sato to handle, and even Power struggled to make inroads on Castroneves in the final laps of the race.
“I guess [at Edmonton] when I saw Dario [Franchitti] and [Alex Tagliani], I said to them, I think the good old boys is still pushing,” said Castroneves. “I guess the fire is still inside. I won't stop. I will keep going as long as I can.”
At 37 years old, the age-defying Brazilian has achieved more success than all but one of his contemporaries, and although he shares the same number of Indy 500 wins (three) with Franchitti, Castroneves finds himself at a place where he can fix the one glaring omission from his resume.
In 15 combined years of CART and IndyCar Series competition—13 of those with Roger Penske—Castroneves has amassed more than 20 wins and 30 poles to go with his trio of Indy 500 wins, but the individual title that matters most, becoming the IZOD IndyCar Series champion, has proved to be elusive.
The São Paulo native came close on two occasions, earning runner-up positions to Sam Hornish in 2002 and Scott Dixon in 2008, and now finds himself in familiar territory. Just 23 points back from championship leader Ryan Hunter-Reay as the series heads into Mid-Ohio this weekend, Castroneves views it as the start a four-race, six-week sprint to the season finale and possibly his first title.
“To be honest, every time I show up to the track, I want to win the race,” Castroneves said of his enduring hunger. “If I win those races, it will put me in a spot to win the championship. We’re getting close, but there’s still four more races. I’m still not thinking about it too much because there’s 200 points left to get in the game. And that’s a lot. It can go in so many directions. My experience says it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.”
Castroneves was just 22 years old when he made his Indy car debut at the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami in March of 1998, and along with Franchitti and his former teammate Tony Kanaan, the three remain as the only active Indy car drivers who participated in the event.
Since then, Franchitti has earned four IndyCar Series titles (2007, 2009-2011) and Kanaan earned his lone championship in 2004, leaving Castroneves as the final member of the class in need of an IndyCar crown.
With more days behind him than ahead of him in the sport, Castroneves is aware the clock is ticking on his chances to win a championship, but says he isn’t letting it alter his approach to the job.
“For me, my attitude is that it doesn’t add any more pressure or take [any pressure] away knowing where I’m at,” he remarked. “It does feel great to be in this place because you can fight with those guys with the same [championship] opportunity. If you’re going for it, they’re also going to be thinking about points and asking themselves if it’s worth risking it or not.
"In my position, I know what it takes to get close [to a championship], but I don’t know what it takes to win, and that’s what I want to find out in the last races of the season.”
Castroneves’ win at Edmonton, his second of the year after winning the season-opening race at St. Petersburg, vaulted him ahead of Team Penske teammate Will Power in the standings. Despite the slim three-point deficit, being demoted to third in the championship certainly caught the Aussie’s attention.
“Yeah, he's stronger than ever this year,” Power said of Castroneves. “He's been really consistent on days that he can't win. When he can win, he absolutely executes. Helio is definitely doing a good job. He's going to be tough to beat.”
If there’s been one aspect of Castroneves’ 2012 season that has stood out more than others, it has been the remarkable speed he’s demonstrated at most rounds. Upon his arrival at Team Penske, Power became the man to beat, with 30-year-old Ryan Briscoe, pilot of Penske’s No. 2 entry, close behind.
Briscoe’s impressive Indy 500 pole position notwithstanding, Castroneves has taken firm control of the second place on Penske’s depth chart and has done it with a mix of pace and poise. Once he took the lead from Tagliani at Edmonton, Castroneves’ speed was too much for the rapid Takuma Sato to handle, and even Power struggled to make inroads on Castroneves in the final laps of the race.
INDYCAR BRAZIL
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
V8: COTA Friday Notebook
John Dagys explores some of the storylines from the first… -
V8: Lowndes Quickest On Friday At COTA
Red Bull Racing driver tops time charts in opening day of practice… -
INDYCAR: Viso Hits 229.537 On Wet Friday At Indy
Fast Friday's activities turned into Wet Friday just past 3 p.m.… -
PHOTOS: V8 Supercars COTA Gallery
View the first photos from Austin as V8 Supercar drivers prepare… -
MILLER: Indy Needs To Become The Week Of May
Despite decent to great weather, the Speedway has been empty the… -
INDYCAR: 230 MPH Pole Speeds At Indy Possible On Saturday
If the conditions are right on Saturday’s run for the pole,… -
INDYCAR: Live Mailbag Chat From Indy With Miller & Pruett, 2PM ET…
Join Marshall Pruett and Robin Miller for a live IndyCar Q&A session… - More News
