

“My fear is they are taking something away from me, which is racing,” he said. His first two were in 20.Ĭastroneves recalls what he was thinking before he was acquitted. The first three Indy 500 wins were with Team Penske, the most recent one was for Meyer Shank Racing, his current team. He was acquitted and the following month he won his third Indy 500.

The thing is, Castroneves would not even be in the position he’s in today had he been convicted of income tax evasion in April 2009.
#Helio castroneves car series#
“I am not here just to win one race.”Īn Ind圜ar series title would be the cherry on top.
#Helio castroneves car drivers#
Foyt and Rick Mears as the only drivers to win four Indy 500s, who cares? Yup, Castroneves has had a great career, even though he never has won an NTT Ind圜ar series championship, having finished second four times since 2001. “He was so proud of me,” Castroneves said, in a post-race interview that can be found on YouTube. His former longtime boss, Roger Penske, spoke to Castroneves after the victory. He always says, ‘I knew you were going to do it, I knew it.’” “He was going crazy because he’s the one that started it. I didn’t kiss the bricks.’ I said, ‘That’s OK, you were in a picture.’”Īs for his father, Castroneves said his reaction to him winning his fourth Indy 500 was on the money. “She didn’t say that (at the time), but today, when I say that story, she’s like, ‘Dad, I faked it. “She said, ‘I faked it,’ ” Castroneves said. The punchline is that his daughter complied, kinda sorta. “So I got on my knees and I was like, ‘Look.’ I grabbed her hand and there were a bunch of cameras and I was like, ‘You’re going to kiss these bricks right now because if not, 20 years from now you’re gonna regret it,’” he said. It’s dirty.’”Ĭastroneves was having a great time telling this story. I was like, ‘Let’s get on our knees and kiss the bricks.’ She’s like, ‘I’m not going to kiss the bricks. She was sort of like, ‘I don’t want to be here.’ And I noticed that. “I think she was overwhelmed with everybody screaming, chanting my name. “Somehow, she was having a little attitude,” Castroneves said. Castroneves recalls trying to get her to hold tradition by kissing the bricks at the brickyard. There was Mario Andretti kissing the top of his head.Īnd there was a moment with his 11-year-old daughter, Mikaella.

He talked about the TV producer who refused to tear away from the live celebration and go to commercial after he won. A few that came out of the 2021 Indy 500 were cool. He enjoys regaling others with stories, all the while smiling. Even so, he admitted, “I’m still on Cloud 9 from last year.” Oh, those storiesĮnthusiasm seems to be in Castroneves’ nature.
