Globe-Trotting Castroneves Proves a Colorful Champion
Helio Castroneves has a theory about why so many Brazilian racecar drivers have gained prominence: "I think when Brazil is not doing well in soccer, they try to find other sports."
Speaking more seriously, Castroneves said leaving soccer- mad Brazil was precisely what he needed.
"I had to go learn a different language, go to a different culture, to do what I love, which is racing," he said. "That creates independence. You create a very strong way to grow. That comes only when you get to a difficult situation, and maybe Brazilians have a better flexibility."
All the years of training in England and Miami and Columbus, Ohio, all the years away from his family and his hometown, São Paulo, paid off for Castroneves on Sunday, when he drove a Team Penske car to victory in the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500.
Castroneves, who earned $1.27 million, beat the second-place finisher, Gil de Ferran, also a Brazilian, also of Team Penske, by 1.73 seconds.
"I made my move and then, thank God, went across the checkered flag," Castroneves, 26, said at a luncheon yesterday in Manhattan. "I actually don't remember if I saw the checkered flag or not. I was so nervous."
With his slight build and impish grin, Castroneves still looks like the boy who fell in love with racing while driving Go Karts.
True to form on Sunday, Castroneves led his pit crew in climbing a retaining fence. Joyously shaking a fist in the air, he showed why many people regard him as the most colorful driver to hit racing in years.
Since he started climbing fences last year, he has been called Spiderman, and he recently showed up at a charity dinner dressed in a red-and-blue Spiderman costume. He considered wearing a helmet adorned with a likeness of Spiderman, but decided against it.
"You have to express your feelings," he said of his postvictory acrobatics.
At age 17, Castroneves went to England to race in British Formula 3. He did not know how to speak English, and neither did his mother, who went to England with him. She quickly returned to Brazil.
Castroneves moved to Columbus and finally Miami. He joined Team Penske for the 2000 season and won three races, including his first victory in the Championship Auto Racing Teams series. That came in Detroit, and that was when Castroneves climbed his first fence.
He was penalized $5,000 for a subsequent climb in Long Beach, Calif., but series officials later dropped the fine.
Castroneves had to find a substitute for his family in Brazil. He has become close to de Ferran, his compatriot. He speaks glowingly of Rick Rinaman, his chief mechanic, who he says is "faster than anybody." And he calls Andy Borme, his engineer of five years, the closest thing he has to a brother.
After the victory, Roger Penske yelled out to Castroneves, "You're the man!"
But it was the words of his mother in the stands that reminded Castroneves of the wisdom of leaving Brazil so many years ago. "I love you," she said. "I'm so proud of you."
:up: GO HELIO!
I am a little confused Molive. Why would you get annoyed if schuey is compared to AS,AP,NM, ect if you consider him one of the best of all time.
for Moore
for Helio
