Helio castroneves dancing with the stars9/20/2023 ![]() “I remember Rick Mears saying, ‘Man, I woke up and this is it. ![]() “I’m not thinking about it, but I’m preparing for when that day happens,” Castroneves said. Whether at MSR or another team, a minority stake certainly is enticing for Castroneves, who obviously took Penske’s words of wisdom to heart after 20 years racing for the business icon from 2001-20. You can argue about where he’s at in his life with racing, but if he wasn’t going to race anymore, I’ve still got to figure out a way to keep Helio here for whatever he wants to do. ![]() The reason I worry with Helio is I have not found anyone to match him in the boardroom, or at a dinner or a corporate event. So he’s very aware when Jim and I are sitting with potential sponsors or a partner, an OEM. “Helio has made a lot of money, but he wants to build his life after this. But I don’t know if he wants to pay for it. 06 Dallara-Honda that Castroneves drove to the IMS Winners Circle last year) told NBC Sports that the driver “would love to have some equity (in the team). With a laugh that Castroneves is “woke,” Mike Shank (co-owner with Jim Meyer of the No. Recently polling third in an Ind圜ar popularity survey, Castroneves, 47, is the oldest driver featured on the cover of the 2022 Ind圜ar media guide’s “Defy Everything” campaign (which also includes Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou, Pato O’Ward and Colton Herta) by at least a decade.īut belying the off-the-wall and happy-go-lucky persona is some serious ambition that includes team ownership – possibly even at Meyer Shank Racing, where he has embraced the role of team leader who’s been given a fresh start at ushering an upstart team into the Ind圜ar establishment. If it’s not only in the race car, it’s making the sponsors and the team united or better or going to the next level.Ī captivating mix of big-game auto racing hunter (an Indy 500 and two Rolex 24 wins in the past 16 months) and savvy businessman (the car dealership he co-owns with Roger Penske is part of a burgeoning portfolio), Castroneves remains among the most appealing stars of the NTT Ind圜ar Series two decades into his career. “But it’s proving to myself that I know I can be better and that motivation to keep trying to find the limit. “I know, I know,” Castroneves said with a laugh. Wait, winning four Indy 500s - and having a shot to be the first to win a fifth in the race’s 106th running May 29 - hadn’t proved enough? “It’s funny that I love the feeling that I have to keep proving it,” Castroneves told NBC Sports recently. ![]() RECALLING HELIO’S INDY WINS: His first in 2001 l The 2002 controversy ![]() STARTING LINEUP: Where the 33 drivers will take the green flag NDY 500 PRIMER: Important details, schedule for watching on NBC The fence-climbing ball of energy who wakes up with a smile on his face according to teammates.Įverything – even a mastery of the majestically difficult Indianapolis Motor Speedway – seems to come easy.īut the Brazilian actually is working harder than ever into his late 40s to maintain his razor-sharp skills on the track while also plotting a long-term future in racing. The goofy cartoon character who can stroll into a Southern California steakhouse in disguise but then immediately command the room. It’s perhaps most overlooked about the effervescent “Dancing With The Stars” winner. INDIANAPOLIS – Helio Castroneves does his homework. ![]()
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