Castroneves Takes Pole for Indy 500
05.09.09 - Helio Castroneves has overcome a lot of personal struggles in the past six months. After a long and arduos Tax evasion trial which found the IndyCar Series Superstar Innocent of all charges, It was only fitting that his run for the pole positon Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway came during the windiest part of the day.
On a day when his other IndyCar Series competitors found speed hard to come by, Castroneves ran faster than all including his provisional pole-sitting teammate, Ryan Briscoe. Castroneves became the eighth driver to win at least three poles at the Indianapolis 500. Rick Mears won six while Rex Mays and A.J. Foyt each won four. Johnny Rutherford, Mario Andretti, Tom Sneva and Arie Luyendyk each won three poles.
"Being here it's already been very special. Many times during the trial I was thinking about it. You know, unfortunately I'm a human being, there's not much I could do. I have to think about racing because that's what I love, and I was just wishing that I would be here. That was my wish, in those times. Just sitting here just to prove that my faith definitely, you know, He did not let me down. He kept me saying this is where you belong. And I have to thank again the team and my family and everybody to keep supporting me."
Castroneves has qualified in the top 10 for seven consecutive Indianapolis 500s and he leads all IndyCar Series drivers with 79 career top-five starts. He also leads all drivers with 98 career top-10 starts. This is the 27th career pole for Castroneves and he is the IndyCar Series' all-time leader. Roger Penske captured his 15th pole at the Indianapolis 500, and 43rd IndyCar Series pole for Team Penske, more than any other owner. No other car owner has won more than four poles at Indy. Penske's first pole win at Indianapolis was with Tom Sneva in 1977.
Castroneves' Team Penske teammate, Ryan Briscoe and Target Chip Ganassi driver, Dario Franchitti join him on the front row of the Indianapolis 500, Sunday, May 24th.
