Hélio Castroneves

This name uses Portuguese naming customs. The first or maternal family name is Castro and the second or paternal family name is Neves.
Hélio Castroneves

Castroneves at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Carb Day for the 2009 Indianapolis 500.
Nationality Brazil Brazilian
Born Hélio Castro Neves
(1975-05-10) 10 May 1975
Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
IndyCar Series career
Debut season 2001
Current team Team Penske
Car no. 3
Starts 234
Wins 23
Poles 39
Fastest laps 17
Best finish 2nd in 2002, 2008, 2013 & 2014
CART/Champ Car World Series
Years active 1998–2001
Teams Bettenhausen Racing
Hogan Racing
Team Penske
Starts 79
Wins 6
Poles 7
Best finish 4th in 2001
Previous series
1993–1994
1995
1996–1997
Formula 3 Sudamericana
British Formula Three Championship
Indy Lights
Awards
2001, 2002, 2009
2001
Indianapolis 500 Winner
Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year

Hélio Castro-Neves (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɛlju ˈkastɾu ˈnɛvis]; born 10 May 1975), better known as Hélio Castroneves, is a Brazilian auto racing driver competing in the IndyCar Series. In IndyCar competition, Castroneves has 23 wins and 38 poles, and placed second in the season standings four times, third two times and fourth four times. Prior to IndyCar, Castroneves competed in the CART championship, with a highest championship points finish of fourth; he recorded six wins and seven pole positions in the series.

Castroneves won the Indianapolis 500 in 2001, 2002 and 2009, making him one of only nine total drivers, and the only active driver, to have won at least three. He finished second to teammate and countryman Gil de Ferran in 2003. Castroneves has won four pole positions for the Indy 500, including back-to-back poles in 2009 and 2010 for the first time since Scott Brayton. He is also one of only five drivers – along with Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose, Bill Vukovich, and Al Unser being the other four – and the only active driver to win the Indy 500 in back-to-back races.

Racing career

Born in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, South America, Castroneves started his career in karting, and later raced for the Paul Stewart Racing team, and finished third in the 1995 British Formula 3 Championship.[1]

Castroneves driving for Paul Stewart Racing at Silverstone during the 1995 British Formula 3 season.
Castroneves during a practice session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

After being occasionally misidentified by US media as "Hélio Neves" he at first changed the spelling to Hélio Castro-Neves and then to Hélio Castroneves. He has one sister, Katiucia. Castroneves was first recognised while driving for Steve Horne's Tasman Racing team in Indy Lights, interestingly as teammate to fellow Brazilian and future IndyCar champion Tony Kanaan.

After showing potential but lacking reliability while with the Bettenhausen and Hogan teams, Castroneves was signed by Penske Racing in CART in 2000 following the deaths of Greg Moore and Gonzalo Rodríguez during the last races of the 1999 season. Moore had signed on with Penske but never had the opportunity to race with the team. Castroneves immediately became a regular front-runner winning the Indianapolis 500 in 2001, the first of three wins where he again performed the crowd pleasing act of climbing the fence at the start finish line in celebration, something he would continue to do after winning races. He switched with the team to the rival IRL for 2002, and remained with Penske, teamed with Gil de Ferran, Sam Hornish Jr., and Ryan Briscoe during his tenure through the 2008 season. During the 2002 season, Castroneves tested with Formula One team Toyota Racing at Circuit Paul Ricard.[2] In January 2009, Team Penske temporarily replaced him with Will Power, citing the difficulties of remaining competitive while Castroneves prepared for trial on federal tax evasion charges (which stemmed in part from Greg Moore's death as Moore's contract was rewritten for Castroneves).[3] Castroneves missed the first race of the 2009 season while the trial was ongoing, but returned to racing at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

Racing fans have given Castroneves the nickname "Spider-Man" because of his victory celebration, in which he climbs the trackside debris fence.

On 24 May 2009, Castroneves became Indy's 9th (and first foreign-born) three-time winner, by taking the checkered flag for the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500.[4][5]

Records

Castroneves currently holds IRL IndyCar Series records for most top-ten finishes (167); Poles (38); and most consecutive seasons with a race win (10; 2001–2010). In 2009 he reset the all-time record for most wins (22) and starts (209) by a driver who has not won the National Championship, taking these records from Bill Holland at Indianapolis and compatriot Raul Boesel at Richmond respectively.[6] His 23rd career win, at Barber Motorsports Park in 2010, broke a tie with his former manager Emerson Fittipaldi for most IndyCar wins by a Brazilian driver.

Other appearances

Aside from success in racing, Castroneves won the fifth season of the American reality TV show Dancing with the Stars with partner Julianne Hough. He has also appeared on truTV's The Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest... as a frequent commentator—mainly on episodes that feature the "World's Dumbest Drivers". He currently lives in Ft. Lauderdale.[7] Castroneves returned to Dancing with the Stars for its 15th season for a chance to win another mirrorball trophy.[8] This time he was be partnered with Chelsie Hightower.[9] They were voted off in the third week of the competition during a double elimination.

Personal life

Castroneves has one daughter with his girlfriend, Adriana Henao. The girl was born on December 28, 2009, and is named Mikaella.[10] Castroneves lives in Fort Lauderdale.[11]

Legal issues

Castroneves in May 2010.

On 2 October 2008, Castroneves was charged with conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion by a grand jury for purportedly failing to report to the IRS about $5.5 million in income between 1999 and 2004, according to court documents. Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence. His business manager and sister Kati, and his lawyer Alan Miller were charged with assisting Castroneves in the supposed scheme. All three defendants surrendered to authorities in Florida on Friday, 3 October 2008. Castroneves pled not guilty to these charges on 3 October, and was ordered released on $10 million bail.[12][13] Castroneves was replaced by Will Power during the duration of his tax evasion court case.[14] The IRS claimed that Castroneves owes $2.3 million in taxes.[15] A guilty verdict would have likely ended Castroneves' racing career.

This issue was related to the initial contract signed by Castroneves with Penske Racing after Greg Moore's death at the California Speedway during the Marlboro 500 on 31 October 1999. In the trial, it was reported that Castroneves' first contract with Penske (2000–04) was signed with Moore's contract with the names changed in ink to reflect the replacement driver. The deal was signed by Moore's agent, Alan Miller, who signed Castroneves' deal days after Moore's funeral as pressure from Penske sponsors forced a quick resolution to finding a replacement.

Central to the case was the ownership of a Panamanian company called Seven Promotions. Prosecutors called it a shell corporation set up primarily so Castroneves could dodge US income taxes, but Castroneves' father testified he created Seven to boost his son's image in Brazil. The elder Castroneves said his son never owned it. Prosecutors called that a lie, showing jurors numerous documents in which Castroneves claimed Seven as his own. If it was, an Internal Revenue Service agent testified that Castroneves owed US taxes on the full $5 million from Penske even though he had never actually received the money. Instead, the Penske payments were eventually invested in a deferred compensation deal with the Dutch firm Fintage Licensing B.V. Castroneves' attorney Roy Black told jurors in closing arguments that such deals are common—and perfectly legal—for athletes who have relatively short careers and face injury or worse at any moment.[16]

The trial ended on 10 April 2009, with closing arguments and the jury deliberated until 17 April, when it acquitted Castroneves of all six counts of tax evasion but hung on a count of conspiracy. On 22 May 2009, prosecutors dropped the remaining conspiracy charge.[17]

Motorsports career results

American open–wheel racing results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Indy Lights

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Rank Points
1996 Tasman Motorsports MIA
DNS
LBH
4
NAZ
17
MIS
5
MIL
11
DET
17
POR
8
CLE
3
TOR
23
TRO
1
VAN
10
LS
2
7th 84
1997 Tasman Motorsports MIA
14
LBH
1
NAZ
4
SAV
1
STL
3
MIL
12
DET
2
POR
2
TOR
1
TRO
20
VAN
19
LS
3
FON
5
2nd 152

CART results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Rank Points
1998 Bettenhausen Racing MIA
24
MOT
11
LBH
9
NAZ
23
RIO
23
GAT
7
MIL
2
DET
12
POR
13
CLE
27
TOR
10
MCH
12
MDO
17
ROA
26
VAN
24
LAG
23
HOU
24
SRF
21
FON
10
17th 36
1999 Hogan Racing MIA
17
MOT
9
LBH
19
NAZ
21
RIO
25
GAT
2
MIL
26
POR
26
CLE
26
ROA
16
TOR
27
MCH
25
DET
7
MDO
7
CHI
5
VAN
8
LAG
26
HOU
26
SRF
21
FON
20
15th 48
2000 Team Penske MIA
25
LBH
2
RIO
24
MOT
13
NAZ
16
MIL
16
DET
1
POR
7
CLE
21
TOR
16
MCH
5
CHI
21
MDO
1
ROA
9
VAN
20
LAG
1
GAT
9
HOU
5
SRF
6
FON
9
7th 129
2001 Team Penske MTY
8
LBH
1
NAZ
11
MOT
2
MIL
26
DET
1
POR
17
CLE
12
TOR
19
MCH
8
CHI
7
MDO
1
ROA
7
VAN
18
LAU
12
ROC
4
HOU
5
LAG
6
SRF
20
FON
22
4th 141

IndyCar Series

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Rank Points
2001 Team Penske Dallara Oldsmobile PHX
18
HMS ATL INDY
1
TXS PPIR RIR KAN NSH KTY GAT CHI TXS 24th 64
2002 Chevrolet HMS
3
PHX
1
FON
5
NAZ
5
INDY
1
TXS
4
PPIR
2
RIR
17
KAN
3
NSH
9
MCH
6
KTY
5
GAT
2
CHI
4
TXS
2
2nd 511
2003 Toyota HMS
3
PHX
2
MOT
22
INDY
2
TXS
7
PPIR
12
RIR
2
KAN
2
NSH
3
MCH
17
GAT
1
KTY
5
NAZ
1
CHI
20
FON
6
TXS
13
3rd 484
2004 HMS
2
PHX
6
MOT
3
INDY
9
TXS
12
RIR
3
KAN
7
NSH
3
MIL
12
MCH
10
KTY
12
PPIR
6
NAZ
5
CHI
10
FON
7
TXS
1
4th 446
2005 HMS
5
PHX
2
STP
20
MOT
11
INDY
9
TXS
5
RIR
1
KAN
8
NSH
5
MIL
16
MCH
21
KTY
5
PPIR
4
SNM
21
CHI
2
WGL
12
FON
9
6th 440
2006 Honda HMS
2
STP
1
MOT
1
INDY
25
WGL
7
TXS
1
RIR
10
KAN
6
NSH
5
MIL
14
MCH
1
KTY
3
SNM
5
CHI
4
3rd 473
2007 HMS
9
STP
1
MOT
7
KAN
3
INDY
3
MIL
16
TXS
16
IOW
8
RIR
11
WGL
18
NSH
6
MDO
3
MCH
17
KTY
9
SNM
2
DET
14
CHI
4
6th 446
2008 HMS
4
STP
2
MOT1
2
LBH1 KAN
4
INDY
4
MIL
5
TXS
2
IOW
14
RIR
2
WGL
16
NSH
3
MDO
2
EDM
2
KTY
2
SNM
1
DET
2
CHI
1
SRF2
7
2nd 629
2009 STP
LBH
7
KAN
2
INDY
1
MIL
11
TXS
1
IOW
7
RIR
17
WGL
4
TOR
18
EDM
2
KTY
4
MDO
12
SNM
18
CHI
20
MOT
10
HMS
5
4th 433
2010 SAO
9
STP
4
ALA
1
LBH
7
KAN
4
INDY
9
TXS
20
IOW
2
WGL
9
TOR
24
EDM
10
MDO
3
SNM
5
CHI
6
KTY
1
MOT
1
HMS
5
4th 531
2011 STP
20
ALA
7
LBH
12
SAO
21
INDY
17
TXS
10
TXS
4
MIL
9
IOW
7
TOR
17
EDM
2
MDO
19
NHM
17
SNM
2
BAL
17
MOT
22
KTY
29
LVS3
C
11th 312
2012 Dallara DW12 Chevrolet STP
1
ALA
3
LBH
13
SAO
4
INDY
10
DET
17
TXS
7
MIL
6
IOW
6
TOR
6
EDM
1
MDO
16
SNM
6
BAL
10
FON
5
4th 431
2013 STP
2
ALA
3
LBH
10
SAO
13
INDY
6
DET
5
DET
8
TXS
1
MIL
2
IOW
8
POC
8
TOR
6
TOR
2
MDO
6
SNM
7
BAL
9
HOU
18
HOU
23
FON
6
2nd 550
2014 STP
3
LBH
11
ALA
19
IMS
3
INDY
2
DET
5
DET
1
TXS
8
HOU
9
HOU
21
POC
2
IOW
8
TOR
2
TOR
12
MDO
19
MIL
11
SNM
18
FON
14
2nd 609
2015 STP
4
NLA
2
LBH
2
ALA
15
IMS
6
INDY
7
DET
6
DET
19
TXS
3
TOR
3
FON
23
MIL
2
IOW
11
MDO
15
POC
16
SNM
15
5th 453
2016 STP
4
PHX
11
LBH
3
ALA
7
IMS
INDY
DET
DET
TXS
RDA
IOW
TOR
MDO
POC
SNM
4th* 118*

* Season still in progress.

Years Teams Races Poles Wins Top 5s Top 10s Indianapolis 500
Wins
Championships
16 1 234 39 23 110 168 3 (2001, 2002, 2009) 0

Indianapolis 500

Practicing for the 2007 Indianapolis 500.
Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
2001 Dallara Oldsmobile 11 1 Team Penske
2002 Dallara Chevrolet 13 1 Team Penske
2003 Dallara Toyota 1 2 Team Penske
2004 Dallara Toyota 8 9 Team Penske
2005 Dallara Toyota 5 9 Team Penske
2006 Dallara Honda 2 25 Team Penske
2007 Dallara Honda 1 3 Team Penske
2008 Dallara Honda 4 4 Team Penske
2009 Dallara Honda 1 1 Team Penske
2010 Dallara Honda 1 9 Team Penske
2011 Dallara Honda 16 17 Team Penske
2012 Dallara Chevrolet 6 10 Team Penske
2013 Dallara Chevrolet 8 6 Team Penske
2014 Dallara Chevrolet 4 2 Team Penske
2015 Dallara Chevrolet 5 7 Team Penske

Castroneves' finishes for 2001 to 2003 is currently the best 3 race finishing streak in Indianapolis history. It is equal to the streak posted by Al Unser from 1970 through 1972.

Touring/Sports Cars

Complete American Le Mans Series results

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine Tyres 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2007 DHL Team Penske LMP2 Porsche RS Spyder Evo Porsche MR6 3.4L V8 M SEB
5/3
STP LNB TEX UTA LIM MID AME MOS DET PET MON 23rd 19
2008 DHL Team Penske LMP2 Porsche RS Spyder Evo Porsche MR6 3.4L V8 M SEB STP LNB UTA LIM MID AME MOS DET PET
4/1
MON
6/4
19th 45

V8 Supercar results

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Final Pos Points
2010 Wilson Security Racing YMC
R1
YMC
R2
BHR
R3
BHR
R4
ADE
R5
ADE
R6
HAM
R7
HAM
R8
QLD
R9
QLD
R10
WIN
R11
WIN
R12
HDV
R13
HDV
R14
TOW
R15
TOW
R16
PHI
R17
BAT
R18
SUR
R19

18
SUR
R20

19
SYM
R21
SYM
R22
SAN
R23
SAN
R24
SYD
R25
SYD
R26
NC 0 +
2011 Lucky 7 Racing YMC
R1
YMC
R2
ADE
R3
ADE
R4
HAM
R5
HAM
R6
PER
R7
PER
R8
PER
R9
WIN
R10
WIN
R11
HDV
R12
HDV
R13
TOW
R14
TOW
R15
QLD
R16
QLD
R17
QLD
R18
PHI
R19
BAT
R20
SUR
R21

12
SUR
R22

10
SYM
R23
SYM
R24
SAN
R25
SAN
R26
SYD
R27
SYD
R28
63rd 147

+ Not Eligible for points

Complete Stock Car Brasil results

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2012 Shell Racing Peugeot 408 Peugeot 5.7 L V8 INT CTB VEL RBP LON RIO SAL CAS TAR CTB BSB INT
14
NC† 0†
2013 Shell Racing Peugeot 408 Peugeot 5.7 L V8 INT CUR TAR SAL BRA CAS RBP
DNS
BRA VEL CUR GOI INT NC† 0†

† Ineligible for championship points.

References

  1. "Cart's European refugees". BBC News. 20 September 2001.
  2. "Castroneves impresses in F1 test". BBC Sport. 21 September 2002. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  3. Power replaced Castroneves at Penske during tax evasion case USAToday.com, 13 January 2009
  4. Graves, Gary (25 May 2009). "Castroneves ascends to new heights at Indy". USA Today. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  5. "Castroneves claims third Indy 500". BBC Sport. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  6. Helio Castroneves – champcarstats.com
  7. "Official Web Page". Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  8. Dancing with the Stars All-Star Cast Revealed
  9. Dancing with the Stars: Pairs Revealed for All-Stars Season
  10. Ritti, Missy (29 December 2009). Dancing Star Helio Castroneves Welcomes a Daughter. People, 29 December 2009. Retrieved from http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20333469,00.html.
  11. "PICTURE GALLERY: At Home with Helio Castroneves". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  12. "Castroneves indicted on tax evasion – Yahoo News Story".
  13. Power replaced Castroneves at Penske during tax evasion case. Retrieved on 13 January 2009.
  14. Castroneves owes .3 million in taxes Retrieved on 27 March 2009.

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