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If the saying “To the victor go the spoils” is true, then Helio Castroneves was spoiled rotten for his victory in the 2009 Indianapolis 500.
Castroneves received the spoils of his third “500″ victory – the Herff Jones Champion of Champions Ring and the unveiling of his likeness on the famed Borg-Warner Trophy – in a ceremony Jan. 12 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
“Where is it?” Castroneves said as he tried to locate his newest likeness on the trophy. “Ohh, here we go. Wow! We can see that the years are passing by. My hair is kind of going backward. I can see that. Isn’t that amazing? Oh my goodness! This is just incredible.”
Surrounded by the cars that A.J. Foyt, Wilbur Shaw and Johnny Rutherford drove to their third “500″ victories, IMS Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Belskus presented Castroneves with his winner’s ring. Event host Bob Jenkins and a crowd of fans counted down the time until Castroneves removed the covering from the trophy to see his face sculpted in sterling silver. Belskus also surprised Castroneves by giving him a basket of baby clothes as a congratulatory gift on the recent birth of his first child, daughter Mikaella.
In addition to the champion’s ring and likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy, Castroneves and Team Penske owner Roger Penske will receive scaled-down replicas of the Borg-Warner Trophy in a ceremony Jan. 13. The “Baby Borg” is traditionally presented by BorgWarner to the winning driver and car owner in Detroit during the North American International Auto Show. Castroneves’ likeness also will be featured on the event ticket for the 2010 “500.”
“I have to work four times harder now,” Castroneves said of his drive for a record-tying fourth “500″ win May 30. “I have the right team. I have great people surrounding me. I guess I know what I need to do. Certainly, it will be tough. It will be difficult, but I have no doubt in my mind that everything is possible, so I’m going to go for it.”
By Jana Strange – Indycar.com
source url: http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=15639
Video link: http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=11810781
Hello Helio!!! I hope to see you in SÃO PAULO.
Congratulations Helio. Mikaella is so beautiful!!!
From your friend Gusmão!!!
Adding my ’3′ Cents to the congratulatory messages on a great start to 2010…altho i think your year started end of 2009 with Mikaella.Looking foreward to the start of the racing season which can’t come soon enough for all of us.
Love the ring and trophy presentation to a very worthy driver.Will be rooting you on in 2010..this is your year..i know it!!Good luck.
Many wishes for the new year, Helio. Congrats on the little one and so proud of you for the new ring and image on the trophy. What a year has passed and so glad to see you come through. I was one of your prayer warriors and love to point out to people what sincere petitions to our Heavenly Father can accomplish. Were you planning to give the ring to your sister? I heard that you were but maybe just a rumor. Looking forward to the new racing year and to see your baby girl grow more lovely like her mother and dad.
So exciting, so proud of you!!!!
Congratulations Helio! All your hard work had dividends
Much deserved!!! Hooray!!!
Congrats Helio. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy !!
@Barb from Indianapolis: Thanks. Why no new stuff for the three, hopefully almost four, time champ?
I was reading an article with 10 predictions Terry Blount made on ESPN.com and #10 is my favorite – “Helio Castroneves finally wins a non-dancing championship”. That would be awesome.
Helio
Congratulations on the ring ceremony today and on getting to see your likeness on the Borg Warner Trophy. It was great talking with you last night at the fundraiser. I think last night may hold me over until March when racing starts. Take care, BIG HUG from Rhonda and Tom.
Congrats. Know what you mean about the hair moving back as the years pass. My forehead is now and eighthead.
@Paige: Paige, I didn’t find any new items of Helio’s at the Indy Motor Speedway gift shop. In fact, they told me there still wouldn’t be a small diecast car of Helio’s, even though there is one for almost every other driver. Guess I’ll never understand that!!!
Helio, I really enjoyed watching you accept your new ring today and IMS Museum here in Indy. I couldn’t really see the ring very well though. Could you post a close-up picture of it? It looks like it may be a heavier ring than your other one.
Also, while at the IMS Museum I inquired about the diecast model of your #3 car and was told there STILL would not be one this year. Why in the world (with all the other drivers represented with the new small-sized diecast cars) is there not a small diecast car for the winner of the 2009 Indy 500? I guess I’ll just have to buy a Ryan Brisco car and change the number to #3 (sorry Ryan).
You were so funny telling us about how the doctor wanted you to “help” with the baby’s delivery, and you telling him you didn’t want to go to the “war zone” down there! But then you did help, and I’ll bet you’re glad you did. Can’t wait to see you racing again real soon!
Sounds like you had a blast Helio. So happy for you. I would LOVE to see you win #4 this year and spend part of the victory celebration with your beautiful little Mikaella in your arms.
Congratulations Helio!!! What a wonderful way to celebrate last year and to start off the 2010 season. I can’t wait to see you race at Indy this year (my first time!) and hopefully it will be #4 for you!
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We’re all so proud of you Helio! Again, what a difference a year makes. You experienced the lows and now it’s time to enjoy the highs. You deserve to be happy my friend!!!!!!!!!!!
GO FOR FOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!