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SPARTA, Ky. – Helio Castroneves will be a Miami-based member of the Ribeirao Preto Chamber of Commerce if his hometown is selected to host an IndyCar Series race in 2010. He’s already been lobbying.
The Indy Racing League’s first trip to South America was included on the 2010 IndyCar Series schedule released July 31. A March 14 date was announced, but a host city was not. That is likely to come in two to three weeks, and Ribeirao Preto is among the sites being considered.
Click it: Printable 2010 schedule
“Personally, it would be incredible because they’ve supported me since go-karts,” Castroneves said of his hometown. “It’s like Sam Hornish in his hometown of Defiance, Ohio; the difference is about 700,000 in my hometown against 20,000. I’m going to have a lot more friends (if the series heads that direction).
“The town is more like the countryside. It’s a university place, which will help for the attendance. It’s a very easy place to get to from other states. I already sound like I’m selling. It’s going to be a huge success. I would be proud to race in Brazil.”
The series currently features Brazilian drivers Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, Rafael Matos, Vitor Meira and Mario Moraes.
Mid-March is autumn in Brazil, which would be perfect time to race on a circuit designed by Indy Racing League vice president of competition Tony Cotman, according to Luczo Dragon Racing driver Matos. Brazil is one hour ahead of EDT.
“IndyCar has a huge fan base in Brazil and all the drivers are proud to be racing in our country,” said Matos, a contender for Rookie of the Year honors. “We will do everything we can to promote the race, and I think we’ll race even harder. It’s a plus for everybody.”
An event in Brazil, which hosted Indy car racing as recently as 2000, will be the first for the IndyCar Series in South America.
Read more at indycar.com
Estamos anciosos com a indy aqui em março,e torcendo por voce claro!!!Obs: Ninguem torce mais por voce aqui no Brasil do que eu.
Ótima notícia para o nosso País. Vai ser sensacional poder fotografar você na Indy aqui no Brasil…
Hi Helio – enjoyed reading and looking at those articles re your testing those super and luxury cars for Maxim — what a dream job!! Which one/s are you buying????
On to Mid-Ohio race – another challenge for you – Mr. Positive and our great race care driver. Win some race for you and us. I’m sure we will be screaming for you to win and then climb a fence as a celebration!!!
HUGs from So CA
Loved the article and video of you testing those super cars at Homestead.What a dream job that would be…just right for me!!! Gotta say my favorite is the red ferrari but i would need an enormous pay rise to treat myself to that.Looked like you had fun,can’t wait for the Maxim article to be on newstands..I’ll be first in line to check out you and the cars.
Good luck at Mid-Ohio…we’ll be cheering you on.Stay safe.
Maxim testing—-enjoyed the Video & articles….Good for you!!!
Good Luck at Mid-Ohio!!!
Can’t wait to watch you race!! Great Driver!!
your fan
Great news about Indy in Brazil !
Helio, are you making any personal appearences for the Mid-Ohio race ? I heard an ad on the radio about other drivers (for Izod) making appearences. Just thought I would ask.
Great news Helio on Indy in Brazil. We hope it is your home town. That would be great. Great race you did a great job. Glad to see Ryan finally get a 1st place. We were happy for Tony also. He has had such bad luck. We would have loved to see you on the podium but 4th was a great job. See you next week. Have a great week.
Dave and Deb
Just saw your old buddy Sam get his best finish in his NASCAR career.
Can’t wait for Mid-Ohio Sunday.
How exciting for you to get to race in Brazil. That is wonderful. Congratulations on your fourth place in the Kentucky. It was an exciting race. Now it is on to Mid-Ohio. I will be watching and cheering you on. Take care and be safe.
Love and a big hug.
Diane
Helio – I am so happy to hear your success and the rest of the IRL team in getting Brazil a part of the 2010 schedule.
Congratulations also for your P4 position at the Kentucky race and over-all leader board. I’m sure you would have preferred to win but as usual you still maintain your smile and positive outlook in life that is so inspiring – showing your maturity and what your priorities are. I will also pull for a win for you in every race you do. At least, it is still a member of your team who won, and it was good to see that your friend Tony’s bad luck has ended. This Kentucky race was so intense and thrilling for us fans! That new gadget seems to help – your pre-race interview was so funny when you said that you were doing it the wrong way….well. it’s new, and I bet you were not the only one who had to adjust to its correct use!
As you always say, time to turn a page – all set to go to Mid-Ohio~~~~yay! Have fun racing and win but please be safe. Love ya. HUGs from your fan at SO CA.
I’m so happy for you to hopefully be racing in your hometown. That is great. But my heart is broken because you won’t be coming back to Richmond, VA. I believe it is a mistake that the IRL won’t be coming back but I understand the reasons. I just think it’s crazy that the owners of RIR let this series go. That was a big mistake. BUT I will watch you every race and pull for you to win every time. You are the best!!
Love ya’!
AWESOME DUDE!!! I was so happy to hear that you were racing in your hometown. I was actually looking forward to you winning the race! I can actually dream it right now. Boy, would your parents be happy if you won that thing big time.
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
What a great show you all put on last night in Kentucky. The changes to the car and the track sure combined to make for a very exciting race. As others have said, I was also holding my breath when your car started climbing up the track toward the wall. What a save!
So glad to see you running up front – was sure hoping you could have been up there on the podium with Ryan (preferably on the top step) – but was happy for Ed and Tony.
Great to hear that Brazil is on the schedule for next year – hoping it does end up being in your home town.
That was totally awesome racing yesterday. I hope the IRL keeps those new changes & options. There was good racing going on in so many places on the track. I’m also glad you avoided that wall, Helio. When I saw that I took a deep breath in fear of the potential impact on you. You utilized your overtake option quite well, I thought. It would have been nice for you to be on the podium with Ryan, but I’m kinda happy for Tony too. I hope that helps him get out of the slump he’s been in.
WOW That was an exciting race!!!!!! I’m so impressed that you were able to hang on after your close call with that wall! You are truly a gifted driver and I think if you hadn’t had that problem you could have won the race. But if not you, I’m so glad that it was Ryan. Also very happy to see TK up there….
As always, drive fast, stay safe and have fun!!!
Lisa
Awesome that you finally get to race in your home country ..looking foreward to next year already!
The race in Kentucky was by far much more exciting…came a close second to your third Indy Victory in May.Congrats to the league for implementing the changes finally.The race was exciting,side by side racing and i have to agree with what you said in your interview,everyone exercised professionalism and worked with each other for a safe race.Glad for Ryan/Team Penske but it would have been the icing on the cake with a podium for you too.However I was happy to see TK get a break finally,we have all felt so bad for all the bad luck he has experienced of late.
Hope you can get a few days rest and fun before next weekend.Hopefully that race will be as exciting and #3 will be #1.
Welcome to KY, my home state, and I have to say that probably was the most exciting race I’ve watched. I commend IRL for making those changes. The only thing it lacked was a place on the podium for you, but considering how intimate you became with the wall, fourth is great! I was disappointed that Nashville was once again not on next year’s schedule, but I’m very happy for you to be able to go to Brazil and I hope they pick your hometown to host. Wishing for a win in Ohio next Sunday.
Woo! Fantastic race tonight Helio!
Really wanted to see you win, but Ryan’s OK. The racing was fantastic. Best oval race of the year.
BTW, loved your sound effect after the race and the big smile on your face.
Can’t wait for March 14th Helio.
Wow! Brazil contributes a lot of good drivers so they should be on the schedule. Hope it works out and I hope Rio gets the Olympics as well. Brazil (or Brasil) is becoming the new economic powerhouse of the western hemiphere. They are completely energy independent thanks to government programs started in the 1970s, they have the fastest growing rising standard of living and they provide health care to the nation. All big accomplishments. I have a client in Sau Paulo, maybe that gives me an excuse to make a trip.
You guys should do a video tour of Ribeirao Preto and post it on-line and enlist fans to help with lobbying be supplying contact info for the parties making those decisions. IRL could promote it in conjunction with the local Brazilian Chamber of Commerce by offering package trip deals in the U.S. If they decide quickly, they could put together and start selling packages this season at the tracks. A couple of promotional give-aways would help spark interest as well. Just some thoughts. My wheels are always turning. 
Good luck in Kentucky!! Bring back a trophy and some good ole Kentucky Bourbon!!
I think it’s awesome Brazil is on the schedule and I hope they go to your hometown!
Hope its your home town!!
It will be great to see Brazil on TV!
your fan
É, agora só tem que escrever em português no Blog também né…
eeeeeeeeeee, eu quero ir!!!!!!!!!!!!!