Helio Castroneves Tag

By Kirby Arnold, Staff Writer  INDIANAPOLIS – Six months ago, I wasn’t sure this day would happen. Or to be precise, could happen.  The COVID-19 pandemic was strangling the world last December, and nobody knew how to loosen that grip or when it would. Positive test numbers climbed at an alarming rate, and while some people got over it fairly easily, many got really sick. And people died, some I knew personally, and it scared the you-know-what out of me. A vaccination was on its way, but when?  Frankly, when I got my first vaccination on Valentine’s Day and the secondRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS – “Helio! Helio! Helio!” The Indianapolis Motor Speedway were chanting the name of Helio Castroneves, who won the 105th Indianapolis 500. In one of largest sports gathering since the pandemic, they witnessed history as Castroneves joined AJ Foyt, Al Unser, and Rick Mears as the only four-time Indy 500 winners. This triumph not only marked the 46-year-old’s first Indy 500 win in 12 years, but Meyer Shank Racing’s maiden INDYCAR victory. The organization that was once solely known for sports cars, showcased they gotRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS – “I tried everything. It hurts. But to be honest, it’s good to lose against probably one of the best. Well, it’s one of the best, probably the best. Yeah, it’s Helio.” Alex Palou indeed tried everything he could to get and fend off Helio Castroneves. But when Castroneves made the race-winning pass with two to go, Palou saw the Indy dream evaporate. As Castroneves brought home his fourth Indianapolis 500 victory, Palou wound up a crushing runner-up. “I didn’t expect that a secondRead More

By Kirby Arnold, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS – A generation has passed since anyone witnessed a driver win the Indianapolis 500 for the fourth time. The most recent was 1991 when Rick Mears joined A.J. Foyt and Al Unser in the four-timer club.  If that makes you realize you’ve been around a long time, how do you think Helio Castroneves feels?  The 46-year-old won the 500 in 2001, 2002 and 2009, and driving for powerful Team Penske it seemed he not only was speeding toward a fourth victory, five (or more) seemed entirely possible.  He’s still waiting.  In the 11 Indy 500sRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer INDIANAPOLIS – Carb Day is the final opportunity for 33 drivers getting their cars well-adjusted before Sunday’s 105th Indianapolis 500. As obvious as it sounds, there’s a wild card that’ll change everyone’s approach. This weekend’s weather conditions will be cooler as a cucumber. All throughout the Month of May, hot conditions were the total norm. Now, temperatures will be in the high 60s. It’s bound to create more grip on the 2.5-mile circuit, thus creating exciting racing. How do the competitors feel about the suddenRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Specialists are common ground in the NTT IndyCar Series. Some are simply running a partial schedule because teams are focused with their main drivers or developing their operation. More recently, others are filling in drivers who aren’t keen on running ovals. In this second installment of our previews, we’ll highlight five drivers who’ll compete in specific circuits — Max Chilton, Ed Carpenter, Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan and Pietro Fittipaldi Max Chilton – No. 59 Carlin Chevrolet Age: 29 Years in IndyCar: 5 Best Finish: 4th (2017Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer This upcoming season for the NTT IndyCar Series will have a plethora of stories to be unraveled. Some are looking to make a name for themselves in their new destinations while others are simply determined of making progress. Over the next three weeks, Motorsports Tribune will preview six different group of drivers. The drivers who finished in the top-10 last season will be split into two previews. We’ll also preview this year’s rookie class, drivers with new rides, racing specialists and competitors who look to improve.Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Meyer Shank Racing has expanded their IndyCar program and will feature Helio Castroneves for six races in 2021. A three-time Indianapolis 500 champion, Castroneves joins a program that just completed their first full season in the NTT IndyCar Series with Jack Harvey, who is set to continue his role as MSR’s only full-time pilot in the No. 60 Honda for 2021. Castroneves, winner of 30 races and 50 poles in North America’s premier open wheel championship, will drive the No. 06 entry beginning at the HondaRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Two days of wild pit strategies and for the most part clean racing set quite a positive tone in the Harvest GP at Indianapolis. I’m more than willing to say it was some of the best racing the NTT IndyCar Series has seen at the Indy road course without rain creating that possibility. When you look at the winners, you’d think it’s super predictable because the circuit it’s still Team Penske’s playground with Josef Newgarden and Will Power victorious. Rest assure, they had to earn itRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Alas, the final NTT IndyCar Series doubleheader has finally arrived to kick off the final month of what can be best described as a glass case of emotions. Already we’ve seen those emotions kick into high gear with silly season madness before the Harvest Grand Prix can even get going. After a real underwhelming campaign by Zach Veach, Andretti Autosport have pulled the plug on keeping the 25-year-old, who hasn’t finished in the top-10 since the season opener at Texas where he finished fourth. The decisionRead More