Storybook Ending
By Andrew Cutler
May 25 2009
Helio Castroneves joined a pretty exclusive group today, becomming just the ninth driver to claim victory at the Indianapolis 500 for a third time. This caps an impressive month where the Brazilian put the worries of his recent legal issues behind him and got back to doing what he loves most; racing.
After starting on the pole, Helio lead only the first seven laps, six of which were run under a caution flag when Mario Moraes and Marco Andretti got a bit too close togeather in the opening lap. For much of the first 2/3rds of the day it would be the Ganassi Racing duo of Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon who would show the way, while Castroneves hung out in the top ten, biding his time.
There would be a fair amount of attrition throught the day, with Ryan Hunter-Reay, Graham Rahal, Tony Kanaan and Robert Doornbos among those who would find the wall. Others, like EJ Viso and Oriol Servia would fight mechanical gremlins as long as they could, only to be forced to call it a day too early.
Finally, on lap 142, Helio made his move and never looked back. He charged off into the lead, keeping more than enough space between himself and Panther Racing's Dan Wheldon. A late race crash, which saw Vitor Meira's car sliding along the first turn wall on it's side, bunched the field for one last restart but, once again, Wheldon couldn't cut into Castroneves' lead.
"I think my tears speak for everything," Castroneves told reporters afterwards. "What a great team. I just have to thank, first of all, the Lord for giving me this opportunity, to be strong, to have a family that I have. I have to thank (team owner) Roger (Penske), (Penske Racing president) Tim (Cindric), my guys, everybody because they gave my life back. I'm here today because of those guys, and obviously the fans who kept me strong."
Danica Patrick finished in third. "One-off" driver Townsend Bell put in what was perhaps the performance of the race to finish in fourth. Will Power was fifth and the Ganassi duo of Dixon and Franchitti, both of whom had issues on their final pit stops, came home in sixth & seventh.
Helio Castroneves ('01/'02/'09) joins Louis Meyer ('28/'33/'36), Wilbur Shaw ('37/'39/'40), Mauri Rose ('41/'47/'48), Bobby Unser ('68/'75/'81) and Johnny Rutherford ('74/'76/'80) as a three time Indy 500 winner: AJ Foyt ('61/'64/'67/'77), Al Unser Sr. ('70/'71/'78/'87) and Rick Mears ('79/'84/'88/'91) have four wins apiece.
I have some 70+ photos from today, but I am too tired to mess with them right now. I will post a seperate thread for them sometime on Monday.
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also Danica drove fantastically today given the almost costly mistake in the pits, she was able to keep her head straight and finish stong.
BATracing F1 Just Got More Addicting
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Good job of driving, but Helio needs to get a grip on his emotional side of life. Maybe it's the affects of the Zoloft wearing off.
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