In a year which represented a comeback for the Team Penske Driver, Helio Castroneves was 5th place in the race at Fontana, last of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, and ended the championship in 4th place. With two wins, pole position and several other consistent results, the driver for Team Penske took a big step forward compared to 2011, when he didn’t win, and ended 11th in the championship.

In Saturday’s race, Castroneves was the entire time in the front of the pack, stopped nine times in the pits and this strategy led to a very fast pace in the final laps, jumping from 9th to 5th in four laps. This extremely fast pace, since he made his last pit on lap 243 of 250, was only interrupted on the penultimate lap, when a yellow flag that prevented him to continue gaining more positions.

“I can not say I’m happy with this season just because the title would make me feel fully satisfied, but it is also true that this was a much better year than 2011. Evolution of Team Penske with the new equipment was superb and we got to the last race competing for the title. Unfortunately Will Power suffered an accident that prevented him from winning a well deserved title, but Ryan Hunter-Reay is to be congratulated for winning and now let’s start thinking about 2013, “said Castroneves, who will already start next week the participation in the Dancing With the Stars-All Stars.