Although it was not the race he imagined for Long Beach, Helio Castroneves held the lead of the IZOD IndyCar Series Championship after finishing 10th in the race held this Sunday at the Californian Street circuit. The 20 points gained accumulated to a total of 99, which represents an advance of 6 points from the second place, Takuma Sato, winner of the race.

Sixth best for the starting grid, the driver for Team Penske had to resort to the pits to change the front wing, damaged in the opening laps. The intense traffic condition made it less efficient than he intended to pass other cars, coming from the 25th position. Even so, Helio adopted a strategy of 3 pits and climbed positions gradually.

“Obviously I’m not overjoyed because my plan was the podium, but I’m not complaining to leave Long Beach as championship leader. And I’ll tell you more, with everything that happened here today, it was more likely that this would not happen. So, I see the good side of things and will arrive in Brazil with this privileged status and, of course, with the battery charged by the satisfaction of racing at home, “said Castroneves, whose agenda for São Paulo is already full of commitments. The race will be in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May 5.

Upon completing the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama in 3rd place, Helio Castroneves confirmed to have adopted the right strategy and with this podium finish, that added up to the 2nd place finish last race, in St. Petersburg, Castroneves accumulates now 79 points and goes onto the next race at Long Beach (April 21) as the new leader of the IZOD IndyCar Series Championship.

Since the previous day, on the Fast Six and the warm-up this Sunday morning, Castroneves chose to save tires. This allowed the Team Penske driver to have soft tires in better condition for the race and could make use of this compound in winning positions at Barber Motorsports Park. Besides the 35 points, Castroneves had the bonus point for leading at least one lap on the race.

“It was an important result for the championship and taking the lead in the championship is a great credit to all team members of the AAA Insurance Turbo Team Penske. We made three awesome pitstops and narrowly missed to victory. But we’ll keep moving forward because the championship is just beginning, “said Castroneves.

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Turbo is a snail who dreams about participating in the Indy 500. This is the theme of “Turbo”, a 3D animation (Indycar based) movie from DreamWorks, to be released in July. Enthusiastic with the project, Helio Castroneves will have the logo of the film in the rear wing of his Chevrolet Dallara DW12 #3, during the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, held on Sunday, 7.

“‘Turbo’ is a character and I love it. He is a guy who fight for their dreams, overcome obstacles, doesn’t listen to those people who discourage and works with all the dedication to achieve his goal, “said Castroneves, who added:” I can not wait to see the movie. ”

For more information, visit www.turbomovie.com

Helio Castroneves had a big surprise on Thursday, 4, while visiting the headquarters of AAA Insurance in Alabama. The company sponsoring Team Penske and primary sponsor of the Dallara DW12 #3 Chevrolet in Sunday’s race, produced dolls of 3-time Indy 500 winner, with the AAA racing suit.

Castroneves had so much fun with the doll and then gave a nickname: “I call him ‘Mini Me’”, referring to the fact represent the miniature of himself, differently than the name “Helinho”, as he is known in Brazil.

The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama will be held on Sunday, 7 at Barber Motorsports Park circuit. The 90 lap race will start 3:00 EST. The live broadcast will be on NBC Sports.

Helio Castroneves was part of the pre-season test at Sebring in Florida, on Monday, 14 . In attendance were the two cars of Team Penske, including Will Power, and served to evaluate the work done by the Chevrolet engine team.

Throughout the day, among laps around the track sessions and meetings with engineers, drivers could see a significant performance gain, which left Castroneves excited. “The Chevrolet team was not idle after the season ended last year and was able to offer us a better engine. And the most important thing is that we have room for more work and improve further, ” said Castroneves, who in 2013 will be fulfilling its 16th season in IndyCar and 14th in the Team Penske.

The most memorable moment of Helio Castroneves in 2012, according to his Brazilian fans on Twitter, was the victory in the opening race of the IZOD IndyCar Series, held on March 25th 2012 in St. Petersburg , Florida. There were several highlights mentioned, especially the tribute to Dan Wheldon, who lived in the city.

“I found really cool this reminder from fans of Brazil. Really, that win in St. Petersburg was very special, “said Castroneves. “It was important in several respects. Besides being a come back to win after a difficult 2011, was the first with the new Dallara DW12 Chevrolet and a unique opportunity to pay tribute to Dan” recalled the driver, who celebrated at the fence of Dan Wheldon Way, a street named ​​to honor the driver who died in Las Vegas on October 16, 2011.

This season, the race on the streets of St. Petersburg will mark the start of the IZOD IndyCar Series, where Helio Castroneves won three of his 27 wins in IndyCar, making him the Brazilian with the most wins in the series. Besides the victory of 2012, he accumulates the 2006 and 2007.

Fans also remembered other prominent moments of Helio Castroneves in 2012, such as participation in the Million Race Stock Car, good performance in São Paulo Indy 300, Victory in Edmonton, the return to Dancing With The Stars and “dance lesson” dance to the mechanics of WA Mattheis.

Helio Castroneves is already in Sebring, in the U.S. state of Florida, where today and tomorrow will hold preseason tests with the Dallara DW12 Team Penske Chevrolet. After experiencing developments last week in Fontana’s oval, practice this week constitutes the last track activity of the year.

However, the time away from the tracks will be short, since the 3-time Indy 500 champion already has tests scheduled for January, February and March. This marathon is part of the preparation for the start of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Season, the first race will be on March 24th in St. Petersburg, FL.

Helio Castroneves competed this Sunday, 9, the last event of the Brazilian Stock Car series. The race decided the title in favor of the pilot Caca Bueno and the prize of $ 1 million was won by the winner of the race, Thiago Camilo. It was in this scenario that the driver for Team Penske made ​​his debut in the Brazilian series and finished in an important 14th position, after starting from pit lane.

The reigning heat during every practice was replaced by grey skies and threat of rain, which ended up not occuring during the 27-lap race. Castroneves and Shell Racing team’s strategists decided to start from the pits to save fuel, an element that ended up defining the race. Without the need to stop in the pits due to starting the racing with a full tank, the 3-Time INDY 500 winner jumped from 30 to 14, his finishing position.

The strategy was not more successful because Castroneves suffered engine failure as early as the 5th lap. “I think that would be enough to at least get in the top five, but I had to manage that failure, which cost me precious positions. But I loved participating in the Stock Car and really was an amazing experience,” said Castroneves

Helio Castroneves is on the way to Brazil, arriving on Wednesday, 5th to start preparations for the Million StockCar race on Sunday, 9 at Interlagos, São Paulo. The driver for Team Penske will make his debut in the category at the invitation of the Brazilian Shell Racing team headed by Andreas Mattheis and William Lube. Before, however, he fulfilled a journey of tests at Auto Club Raceway, California, finished today (4).

Although the Monday practice was canceled because of rain, today was possible to run about 400 miles by Fontana oval and the result was considered positive. “Of course the rain on monday was not good for us, but fortunately we can go today and try some new pretty interesting stuff,” said Castroneves, who will be returning to the United States already on Sunday, after the race at Interlagos, in order to follow his pre-season schedule.

Before traveling to Brazil to compete in the Million Race Stock Car in Interlagos, on December 9th, Helio Castroneves will test his Chevrolet Dallara DW12 in Fontana, California, this monday, December 3rd.

Although the car is the same as 2012, Castroneves said that there is much work ahead. “Even outside the racing calendar, the staff at the factory is constantly trying to develop those items allowed by regulation and is always a chance for us to experience new successes. Furthermore, we will be testing the tires. ”

Team Penske chose the two-mile oval Auto Club Raceway due to the temperature. “It is getting cold in the United States and will not help us now to test at low temperatures because the racing setup, when it’s warm, completely changes. In Fontana, this time of year, the temperature is still mild, which is possible to collect useful data for the championship, “Castroneves completed.

Champion of the ABC dance contest in 2007, Helio Castroneves will be back on stage at the Dancing With The Stars All-Stars on the night of Tuesday, 27th day of the grand finale of the 15th season. The driver for Team Penske was a participant of the season that is coming to an end, along with dancer and choreographer Chelsie Hightower, but left the show a few weeks ago.

The public will have a chance to review Castroneves on stage on two occasions, once in a group presentation and another individual. All this will be part of the big finale show which will crown the couple Champion of the All-Stars edition. “I am very excited to participate in this great celebration of Dancing With The Stars and I can not wait to get back on stage, said the 3-time INDY 500 champion

Team Penske driver will race for the first time in the Brazilian stock car category, in a season finally for the on going championship that ends the season on Dec. 9 at José Carlos Pace racetrack in Interlagos

Helio Castroneves, driver of the Penske IndyCar team, will participate in the final stage of the Stock Car, on December 9th, invited by of Shell Racing. The race will be run at the Interlagos racetrack and award the winner a prize of $1 million (Brazilian Reais). This will be the first time the three-time winner of the Indy 500 will drive in this category, in which they participated as a team owner, along with crew chief Amir Nasr, in 2004. Castroneves will use the number 3, whose teammate at Shell Racing will be driver Valdeno Brito.

The contest will mark the return of Castroneves to Interlagos nearly seven years after his last appearance in the Brazilian Formula 1 track. Before, his last visit to São Paulo’s motorsport temple, was his victory in the “Thousand Miles” Race in 2006, when he shared driving the Aston Martin with 3-time champion Nelson Piquet, Nelson Piquet and Christophe Bouchut.

“I was very happy with the invitation by Raízen to compete in the Million Race, representing Shell, and certainly will be a great experience. I follow the category whenever I can and my ties with the Stockcar are many, “said Castroneves, also recalling the days when as a child entered Interlagos hidden in the trunk of the car of his father, who in the ’80s had a Stockcar team.

“Our partnership with Shell brand is fantastic in the IndyCar, I am pleased to defend the colors of the company in a few races of the season, especially the Indy 500, and no doubt will be a fantastic experience to be with them in this special race of Stock Car, which also has a millionaire award and attracts much attention from media and fan of motorsport, “said the driver, who holds the record for victories in Indy between Brazilians, with 27 victories.

The special participation by Helio Castroneves was highlighted by Shell Racing team director, William Lube. “The Million Race of 2012 will go down in history as one of the most special of the category and the presence of Helio will give a even bigger glow to this race. Our team is very proud of having a 3-time Indy 500 Champion. Even though this is his debut in stock car, we are sure that the enormous experience in motorsport that Helio has will be very valuable in the Million Race, “said Lube.

Helio received a video from a fan, Shelby Bohmer, which happens to be a very emotional tribute to the 3-time Indy 500 champion.

It’s a 2 part video posted on youtube, and embedded in this post, that shows very important parts of Helio’s career and personal life.

“Thank you Shelby, for such a great honor of having this beautiful video made for me” – Helio Castroneves

Helio Castroneves will participate this Saturday (27) in Boca Raton (FL), the Pro Celebrity Tennis Classic, a tournament promoted by former World No. 1 tennis player, the American Chris Evert. The meeting is held annually with the aim of raising funds for Chis Evert Charities, which is dedicated to helping children through sports. The driver for Team Penske will be participating for the fourth time, which in one of them, played with former U.S. President George Bush (father).

“I love to attend the Chris Evert event because is great fun and an opportunity to practice one of my passions, which is tennis. But mostly, be able to help in the fundraising foundation of Chris, who does a wonderful job with the kids, “said Castroneves, who split the tennis court with former tennis star Martina Navratilova, actor Kevin McKid, singer David Cook, actress Elisabeth Sue, the TV host Hoda Kotb, among others.

PHOTO BY ART SEITZ c2012 ASEITZ2690@AOL.COM

In a controversial decision, which generated thousands of messages of protest by social networks and boos from the audience, Helio Castroneves and Chelsie Hightower were eliminated on Tuesday, 9 of Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars. Receiving the third highest score of the night, on Monday, and the significant popular votes were not enough to keep the couple in the competition.

Anyway, Helio Castroneves still on stage, spoke of his joy in participating in the show and made many thanks. “I have to thank everyone, it was really fun to be here again. I want to thank my family, Chelsie, Team Penske, IndyCar and I want to thank America.”