ABOUT HELIO
| BIRTHDATE | MAY 10, 1975 | INDY 500 WINS | 4 (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021) |
| BIRTHPLACE | SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL | INDYCAR CAREER STARTS | 330 |
| WEIGHT | 147 LBS | SEASONS | 21 |
| HEIGHT | 5′ 8″ | POLES | 54 |
| RESIDENCE | FT. LAUDERDALE, FL | RACES LED | 170 |
| TEAM | Meyer Shank Racing | ||
| 2022 CAR | No 06 Indycar |
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, when Castroneves was 2 years old, his family moved to Ribeirão Preto, SP. When he was 12 years old, his passion for racing started, always with the support of his parents Helio and Sandra, and his big sister, Kati.
Helio raced Go Karts from 1987 until 1991, collecting a National championship and 2 years of experience in World Cup CIK.
In 1992, he moved to Formula Chevrolet, placing 2nd in the Championship.
In 1993 and 1994, he raced in F3 South America, finishing second place on both years.
In 1995, with 20 years-old, Helio moved to England, to be part of the Paul Stewart Racing (PSR) team to compete in the British Formula Three Championship. While with the PSR team, Castroneves finished third in the 1995 British Formula Three standings.
Castroneves made the move to American open-wheel racing in 1996 to compete in the Indy Lights Series for the 1996 and 1997 seasons. He was signed to the Tony Bettenhausen, Jr. team for the 1998 CART season. In 1999, Castroneves competed for Hogan Racing in CART.
Destiny and Roger Penske, however, took note of the Brazilian’s talent and signed Castroneves to Team Penske for the 2000 CART season. The pairing of the quick driver and the superb machines of Team Penske quickly paid dividends as Castroneves scored his first series victory at the 2000 Detroit Grand Prix in his seventh start with the team. It was after this victory that Castroneves debuted his now-famous fence climb that he does to celebrate all of his wins.
Castroneves competed in his first Indianapolis 500 in 2001 as Team Penske. Castroneves wasted little time in etching his name to the Borg-Warner trophy that goes to the race winner as he led 52 laps to pick up his first Indianapolis 500 Borg Warner trophy.
In 2002, Team Penske moved to the IndyCar Series for full-time competition. He became the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 in his first two starts – and the fifth driver to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s – when he took the checkered flag in the 2002 edition of the race.
In 2009, Helio took his third Indianapolis 500 crown, to become just the ninth driver to accomplish that feat.
After that, Castroneves finished twice in second place at Indy 500 (in 2014 and 2017).
In 2018, he changed racing series, competed in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar series, still on Team Penske, but a different style of car and racing.
The 2019 IMSA season, marked the 20th year of Castroneves racing for Team Penske.
In 2020, Helio and his teammate Ricky Taylor, won the IMSA championship, with 4 victories and 4 pole positions.
In January of 2021, Helio signed and won one race only with WTR for the 24 Hours of Daytona.
In May of 2021, Castroneves returned to Indycar, with a new team, Meyer Shank Racing, and in his first race for the team, at Indianapolis, Helio won the INDY 500 for the 4th time, becoming only the 4th driver to win the race 4 times.
For the 2022 season, Castroneves returns to a full season of Indycar, racing for Meyer Shank Racing, in the 06 car.
Helio Castroneves still possesses the speed and skill necessary to win at the highest levels of motorsports and he continues to have the drive and enthusiasm of an eager rookie racer. One of the most successful and popular drivers of his era, Castroneves is best known in racing circles as a four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 and one of the winningest drivers in Indycar history.
Castroneves resides in South Florida with his fiancée Adriana and their daughter Mikaella.
2021
Castroneves will race on the 24 Hours of Daytona with Wayne Taylor Racing’s No. 10 Konica Minolta Racing in the IMSA Championship. For the NTT Indycar Series, Castroneves will compete in 6 races in the 06 car for Meyer Shank Racing.
2020
Castroneves and the No. 7 Acura team won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with 4 Victories and 4 pole positions.
2019
Castroneves and the No. 7 Acura team enjoyed a solid 2019 IMSA season on the strength of five podium finishes and three pole positions. Finished outside the top five only once and led a total of 146 laps en route to a third-place finish in the series standings while also helping Acura win the Manufacturer Championship in the DPi class.
2018
Castroneves transitioned from IndyCar racing to Team Penske’s new IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program. He had a solid first full season racing in IMSA. Finished the 2018 season with one win, two podium finishes and one pole position.
2017
Finished 4th in the Verizon IndyCar Series Championship. Won 1 race, and 8 Top-Five.
2016
Finished 3rd in the Verizon IndyCar Series Championship. Captured 2 pole positions and 8 Top-Five.
2015
Finished 5th in the Verizon IndyCar Series Championship. Captured 4 pole positions, and 6 Top-Five.
2014
Finished 2nd in the Verizon Indycar Series.
2013
Finished 2nd in the Verizon Indycar Series.
2012
Finished 4th in the Indycar Series. Won in St. Pete (FL) and Edmonton (Canada). Cpatured 1 pole position, and finished 5 times in top-five.
2011
Finished eleventh in the IZOD IndyCar Series Championship. Captured 3 Top-Five, and 7 Top-Tens. Including two second place finishes, in Edmonton and Sonoma. He also completed the 200th start with Team Penske this year.
2010
Captured his 4th Pole Position at the Indy 500. Won in Alabama, Kentucky and Japan (started from the pole). Finished 4th in the championship point stands.
2009
Captured his 3rd Pole position at the Indy 500, also Winning the race for the third time, becoming the only Brazilian, and sixth driver in history to win 3 times the most famous spectacle in racing. Finishes fourth in the Indycar Series Championship point standings driving the #3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda. Win also in Texas, and another pole position in IOWA. Finished Top-Three 4 times, and Top-Five 7 times.
2008
Finishes second in the Indycar Series Championship point standings driving the #3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda, with 629 points, only 17 behind the leader Scott Dixon. Wins at Sonoma, and Chicago (with an impressive win starting from last spot, 28th place). Won 3 pole positions, Eight 2nd place finishes, finishing Top-Three 11 times, and Top-Five 15 times.
2007
Finishes sixth in the IndyCar Series Championship point standings driving the #3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda. A win at St. Petersburg breaks Rick Mears’ Penske Racing record of consecutive years with a win for the Team (8). Wins a Series-record seven pole positions at St. Petersburg, Japan, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio and Detroit.
2006
Finishes third in the IndyCar Series Championship point standings driving the #3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Honda. Wins at St. Petersburg, Japan, Texas and Michigan; continues record of winning at least one race a season since joining Marlboro Team Penske. Wins a series-high five pole positions at Watkins Glen, Richmond, Milwaukee, Michigan and Kentucky.
2005
Finishes sixth in IndyCar Series Championship driving the #3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota. Wins at Richmond and moves into second place on Penske Racing’s all-time Indy car win list behind Rick Mears. Wins pole positions at Pikes Peak and Watkins Glen.
2004
Finishes fourth in IndyCar Series Championship driving the #3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota. Wins season finale at Texas. Wins five poles. Receives the Scott Brayton Award at the Indianapolis 500 for displaying the character that best exemplifies the racing spirit of the late Scott Brayton.
2003
Finishes third in IndyCar Series Championship driving the #3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota. Captures pole for the Indianapolis 500, finishes second to teammate Gil de Ferran in Penske’s second 1-2 finish at Indy in three years. Wins two races, St. Louis and Nazareth and three poles.
2002
Finishes second in IndyCar Series Championship in first full season. Drives the #3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Chevrolet. Wins the Indy 500, becoming the first driver to win it consecutively since Al Unser in 1970 and 1971 and just the fifth driver in history to do so. At 27, he is the youngest driver to win twice at Indy and the only driver to win in his first two attempts. Wins two races (Indy and Phoenix) and one pole (Phoenix).
2001
Finishes a career best 4th in the CART Championship driving the #3 Marlboro Team Penske Reynard/Honda. Wins the Indianapolis 500 as well as the Rookie of the Year, becomes the eighth rookie to win in his debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Wins three races and three poles. Becomes the second driver in CART history to lead every lap in two races during the same season (Long Beach and Detroit); Michael Andretti did it 1992. Made his first fence climb at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2001.
2000
Joins Marlboro Team Penske and finishes seventh in CART Championship driving the #3 Marlboro Team Penske Reynard/Honda. Wins three races, including his first CART victory in Detroit and three poles. First in laps led on road/temporary street circuits with 245.
1999
Finishes 15th in CART Championship driving the #9 Hogan Motor Leasing Mercedes Lola for Hogan Racing. Wins first CART pole position in Milwaukee.
1998
Finishes 17th in CART Championship driving the #16 Alumax Aluminum Mercedes Reynard for Bettenhausen Racing. Finishes second in Milwaukee, the highest finish of the season for a rookie.
1997-1996
Finished 7th in his rookie season in the Indy Lights Series for Tasman Motorsports. Finished second in 1997. Wins races at Trois Rivieres, Long Beach, Savannah, and Toronto.
1995
Finishes 3rd in the British Formula 3 Championship for Paul Stewart Racing. Wins at Donington Park and finishes second in five races.>
1994
Finishes 2nd in the Brazilian Formula 3 Championship for Amir Nasr Racing Team.>
1993
Finishes 2nd in the South American Formula 3 Championship for Corpal Racing Team.>
1992
Finishes 2nd in the Formula Chevrolet Brazilian championship.>
1991-1987
Competes in Brazilian karting, winning the National Championship in 1989.