Helio Castroneves had a very productive day on Tuesday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the 96th Indy 500 will take place on Sunday May 27th. On this fourth day of practice for the most important race of the IZOD IndyCar Series, the Team Penske driver finished 2nd fastest, achieving the average speed of 222.025 mph (355,526km/h).

“It was an important day today, as we are working on adjusting the car for the race, but were still able to reach such good speed. Since this is a long race, I tried to ride as much as possible and to simulate some things that are not possible in a few laps. For sure the work cannot stop and we do have room for improvement, but it’s good to notice that we are striving in the right direction”, said Castroneves, who will fight for his fourth win at Indy this year.

Picture John Cote

Helio Castroneves teve uma terça-feira proveitosa no Indianapolis Motor Speedway, local da 96ª Indy 500, prova que será disputada no próximo 27 de maio. No quarto dia de treinos livres para a mais importante etapa do IZOD IndyCar Series, o piloto do Team Penske fechou a prática como o 2º mais rápido, registrando a média horária de 222.025 mph ou 355,526 km/h.

“O dia foi importante porque, mesmo com a gente focado em trabalhar o acerto para corrida, deu para conseguir uma boa velocidade. Por ser uma corrida longa, procurei andar bastante e simular algumas coisas que não são possíveis em poucas voltas. Claro que o trabalho não para e temos onde melhorar, mas é muito bom perceber que a gente está se esforçando na direção correta”, disse Castroneves, que luta por sua quarta vitória na Indy 500.

Foto John Cote

Helio Castroneves achieved this Monday, May 14, his best speed since the start of the Indy 500 practices on Saturday. The Team Penske driver reached 218,728 mph, equivalent to 350 km /h average speed for the 2.5 miles oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Despite the improvement compared to the previous days, the practice focus was not speed, but devoted mainly to adjust the car in traffic. Team Penske had all it’s three drivers out at the track together several times, and Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Will Power alternated positions during this practice.

“One of the main requirements for the race is to balance traffic situation, which was our main focus and what we were working on today,” said Castroneves, who finished the day, alongside his teammates in a Penske Chevrolet dealership in Indianapolis, participating in events with clients.

Picture by Jim Haines

Helio Castroneves estabeleceu nesta segunda-feira, 14 de maio, sua melhor velocidade média desde o início dos treinos livres para a Indy 500, no último sábado. O piloto do Team Penske registrou a marca de 218.728 mph, o equivalente a 350 km/h de média horária no oval de 2,5 milhas do Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Apesar da melhora em relação aos dias anteriores, a prática não esteve focada nesse fim, mas dedicada principalmente ao acerto do carro no tráfego, razão pela qual o Team Penske foi para a pista por diversas vezes em bloco, com Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe e Will Power revezando posições.

“Uma das principais necessidades para a corrida é conseguir o equilíbrio em situação de tráfego e foi nesse item que trabalhamos hoje”, disse Castroneves, que completou o dia de trabalho, ao lado de seus teammates, em uma concessionária Penske Chevrolet, em Indianapolis, participando de evento com clientes.

Foto Jim Haines

The second day of open practice for the Indy 500, that took place this Sunday between 12:00 p.m. and 7 p.m., was of a lot of work for Helio Castroneves and his Shell V-Power Pennzoil Penske Team. The day’s objective was achieved, as several different set-ups were put to test.

“The beginning adjustments are what they are. We cannot focus only on being on top, we need to take advantage of every minute to try out solutions for Pole and Race Day. This is the stage where we win some, loose some, but we must let go of strategies that were not working and work harder on further developing the most efficient solutions. Like I said, we have a lot of work ahead of us”, said Castroneves, who will continue rounds of practices this Monday with his Dallara DW12 Chevrolet #3 car.

Picture Dana Garrett

O segundo dia de treinos livres para a Indy 500, realizado neste domingo entre 13h00 e 19h00 (horário do Brasil), foi de muito trabalho para Helio Castroneves e sua equipe do Shell V-Power Pennzoil Team Penske. O objetivo do dia foi alcançado, pois uma série de experiências foram feitas em termos de acerto.

“Esse início de trabalho é assim mesmo. A gente não pode ficar focado em estar entre os primeiros, mas aproveitando cada minuto para experimentar soluções para o Pole Day e a corrida. É aquela fase em que a gente acerta e erra, obviamente deixando de lado o que não funcionou e trabalhando mais forte ainda para melhorar aquelas soluções que se mostraram mais eficientes. Como disse, temos muito trabalho ainda pela frente”, disse Castroneves, que nesta segunda-feira continuará sua ritina de testes com o Dallara DW12 Chevrolet #3.

Foto Dana Garrett

Helio Castroneves started on Saturday, May 12th, preparations for the 96th Indy 500 with very positive results. The primary objective was to test for solutions, but Helio has his eyes on Pole Day (May the 19th), the Team Penske driver reached the speed of 217.617 mph and 348.187 km /h. Holder of three victories in the most important event of the IZOD IndyCar Series calendar, the Brazilian will attempt to win his fourth ring this year.

“Being at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is amazing. This place is wonderful and I feel really at home. In the first practice, our concern was to test some alternatives and the car behaved very well. I’m glad we are on track, but we still have a lot of work ahead to get the car the way we want for Pole Day and the race, “said Castroneves, who drives the #3 Chevrolet Dallara DW12 with the Shell V-Power Penzzoil colors.

Helio Castroneves iniciou nesse sábado, 12, os preparativos para a 96ª Indy 500 com resultados muito positivos. Mesmo tendo como principal objetivo testar soluções, já de olho no Pole Day do dia 19, o piloto do Team Penske atingiu a marca de 217,617 mph ou 348,187 km/h. Detentor de três vitórias na prova mais importante do calendário do IOD IndyCar Series, o brasileiro tentará o seu quarto anel nesta edição 2012.

“Estar no Indianapolis Motor Speedway é mais. Esse lugar é maravilhoso e me sinto realmente em casa. Nesse primeiro treino, nossa preocupação foi testar algumas alternativas de acerto e o carro se comportou muito bem. Estou contente porque estamos no caminho certo, mas temos muito trabalho pela frente para deixar o carro da forma que queremos para o Pole Day e a corrida”, disse Castroneves, que pilota o Dallara DW12 Chevrolet #3 com as cores da Shell V-Power Penzzoil.

Helio Castroneves is back at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Starting this Saturday, May 12, he and the other drivers will begin preparations for the 96th edition of the Indy 500, the most important race of the IZOD IndyCar Series. Helio, who is the Brazilian with most victories in Indycar, with 26 victories and 40 pole positions, arrives at the Centennial Indiana Motor-speedway as the only active driver able to match the record of wins in the 2.5-mile oval.

Winner in 2001, the year of his first running at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and again in 2002 and 2009, Castroneves has before him in the ranking, with four wins each, A. J. Foyt, Al Unser (Senior) and Rick Mears. Castroneves is the only driver who holds three wins that continues to compete the race that was inaugurated in 1911. Former drivers who also hold three time Indy champion titles are Louis Meyer, Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose Johnny Rutherford and Bobby Unser. This will be his 12th participation on the Indy 500.

Helio Castroneves está de volta ao Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A partir deste sábado, 12 de maio, ele e os demais inscritos iniciarão os preparativos para a 96ª edição da Indy 500, a mais importante prova do IZOD IndyCar Series. Recordista brasileiro de vitórias na Indy¹, com 26 triunfos, e detentor de 40 poles² na categoria, Castroneves chega ao centenário circuito de Indiana como o único piloto em atividade capaz de igualar o recorde histórico de vitórias no oval de 2,5 milhas.

Vencedor em 2001, ano de sua estreia no Indianapolis Motor Speedway, e novamente em 2002 e 2009, Castroneves tem à sua frente nesse ranking, com quatro vitórias cada um, A. J. Foyt, Al Unser (Senior) e Rick Mears. Dos detentores de três vitórias, apenas Castroneves continua a disputar a corrida inaugurada em 1911. Fazem parte desse ranking os ex-pilotos Louis Meyer, Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose Johnny Rutherford e Bobby Unser. Já dentre os bicampeões, somente Dario Franchitti pode igualar a marca do piloto do Team Penske nesta temporada, mas não superá-lo. Esta será a 12ª participação de Castroneves na Indy 500.

Foto por Steve Swope

After testing with his Dallara Chevrolet DW12 at Texas Motor Speedway yesterday in Fort Worth, Helio Castroneves is ready to start his journey in search of his fourth victory of the Indy 500. Training sessions begin on Saturday, May 12th, Pole Day will be on the 19th and the green flag for the 96th edition of the centennial race will be on May 27th.

Castroneves raced across the 1.5 mile oval for more than 100 laps and had a very productive day. “Our goal was fulfilled, as we came to Texas to test diverse situations for oval tracks and we had good results. Team Penske as a whole was great and now, Indianapolis; here we come! “Said Castroneves, who won the Indy 500 in 2001, 2002 and 2009.

Depois de realizar testes com seu Dallara DW12 Chevrolet no circuito oval do Texas Motor Speedway, ontem em Fort Worth, Helio Castroneves está pronto para iniciar sua jornada em busca de sua quarta vitória na Indy 500. Os treinos começam no próximo sábado, 12, o Pole Day será no dia 19 e a largada para a 96ª edição da centenária corrida será no dia 27 de maio.

Castroneves percorreu o oval de 1,5 milha por mais de 100 voltas e considerou o dia muito produtivo. “Nossa meta foi cumprida, pois chegamos ao Texas para testar diversas situações próprias dos ovais e conseguimos concluir o pacote. O Team Penske como um todo foi bem e, agora, Indianapolis. Aí vamos nós!”, disse Castroneves, vencedor da Indy 500 em 2001, 2002 e 2009.

Helio Castroneves will be at Fort Worth at the Texas Motor Speedway this Monday to participate in a group testing. This 1,5 mile track will host the seventh and eighth race of the IZOD IndyCar Series on June 9th. Helio, who is second on the point standings will benefit from this test.

“This will be the first test that we will do after we evaluated the aerodynamic test kit developed by Dallara for oval tracks. We tried solutions based on facts we gathered back in February at Indianapolis, and it will benefit not only for the Indy 500, which is the first oval race of the calendar, but for when we get back to race here at Texas”, said Castroneves, who has won at texas 3 times, in 2004, 2006 and 2009.

Helio Castroneves estará nesta segunda-feira no Texas Motor Speedway, em Fort Worth, participando do teste coletivo no oval de 1,5 milha que será palco da etapas sete e oito do IZOD IndyCar Series, no dia 9 de junho. Para o vice-líder do campeonato, a prática terá dupla utilidade.

“Este será o primeiro teste que faremos depois da avaliação inicial do kit aerodinâmico desenvolvido pela Dallara para os ovais. Experimentaremos soluções a partir das informações colhidas em fevereiro, na pista de Indianapolis, e tudo isso isso será útil não somente para a Indy 500, a primeira prova oval do calendário, como também para quando voltarmos ao Texas”, disse Castroneves, que detém três vitórias no oval texano: 2004, 2006 e 2009.

Helio Castroneves was one of the highlights of the São Paulo Indy 300 this past Sunday, April 29th on the streets of São Paulo, Brazil. After an unfortunate accident during Saturday’s practice, which landed him a 20 place start, the Team Penske driver adopted a bold strategy allowing him to pass and finish the fourth race of the season in fourth place.

The fourth place finish results keeps Helio in second place in the point standings, being only behind Will Power, the Australian who is Helio’s teammate, won the Brazil race for the third time in a row. Power has 180 points, while Helio has 135.

After starting the race with caution, Helio maintained a steady rhythm and a three-stop strategy. This additional time used during the pits, was offset by speed and gaining of positions on the track and efficiency by the mechanics during the stops. For the three time Indy 500 champion it was a 4th place finish with a taste of victory.

“I mentioned before and will emphasize again, that the curb’s at the “S” of Samba are too high. If it was not for this issue, I might have avoided the accident on Saturday, which affected my performance in qualifying.” said Castroneves who then concluded that: “The results allowed me to celebrate for all the good moments. I started so far back, avoided all the accidents, and was able to maintain a strong and steady pace, and my team was amazing in the pits”.

Photo by Steve Swope