Hélio Castroneves

Hélio Castro Neves, known as Hélio Castroneves, ( born May 10, 1975 in São Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian automobile racing driver. After 2001 he was active from 1998 in the U.S. single-seater racing series CART, in the IndyCar Series, he takes since 2001 and in 2002, 2008 and 2013 runner-up. 2001, 2002 and 2009, he won the Indianapolis 500 for themselves. Since 2000 he has been a driver of the Penske team.

His real name is Hélio Castro Neves. As it was, however, come more often to confusion regarding his surname, he initially called Castro- Neves and then finally Castroneves.

• 4.1 Career stations
• 4.2 Individual results in the CART series
• 4.3 Individual results in the IndyCar Series

Career

Beginnings in motorsport

Castro Neves began his motorsport career in 1987 in karting, where he was active until 1991. In 1992 he moved to Formula racing and immediately became vice-champion of the Brazilian Formula Chevrolet. In the next two years, he first won the runner-up of the South American and a year later the runner-up of the Brazilian Formula 3 1995, Castro Neves to Europe and joined Paul Stewart Racing in the British Formula 3 Championship. With a win, he finished at the end of the year in third place in the drivers' championship behind his teammate Ralph Firman, who finished second. He was also behind Norberto Fontana and Ralf Schumacher third in the Formula 3 Masters at Zandvoort.

In 1996 he moved to the Indy Lights. After the U.S. media called him Hélio Neves, he changed his spelling in Castro- Neves. He started for Tasman Racing and was teammate Tony Kanaan, with whom he has been friends since. While he won a race and seventh in the championship, was Canaan won the runner-up title. In 1997 the two Brazilians remained at Tasman Racing. Castro- Neves won three races and dueled with Canaan for the title. Finally he lost it by 156 to 152 points and just missed another title.

CART

In 1998 he moved to the CART series and changed his name spelling in Castroneves. He started for Bettenhausen Racing. With a second place finish at the Milwaukee Mile for the first time he showed his talent. Since he did not finish the race at some races, he finished his first season at the 17th place overall. 1999 Castroneves went for Hogan Racing at the start. Again, he completed a race, this time in Madison, on the second place from. Every race in which he finished, he finished in the top ten pilots, but as it turned out, in some races, he finished at the end of the season only the 15th place in the overall standings.

In 2000 he moved to Team Penske and was team-mate of his compatriot Gil de Ferran. Originally Penske wanted to go with de Ferran and Greg Moore at the start. After the fatal accident, the team of Moore, Castroneves decided to increase under contract. While de Ferran decided the championship titles, Castroneves won the race in Detroit, Lexington and Laguna Seca. Although no pilot had won more races than he, due to lack of consistency it was enough end of the season but just in seventh place overall. In 2001 he decided with wins in Long Beach, Detroit and Lexington again three races for themselves. Although he again won more races than de Ferran, he was fourth, while his compatriot champion. He also competed in two races in the Indy Racing League won the same for its first participation of the prestigious Indianapolis 500

IndyCar Series

In 2002, Castroneves with his team in the Indy Racing League. He first won the race in Avondale for themselves and then defended his victory at the Indianapolis 500 Finally, he had to admit defeat to Sam Hornish Jr. and was in his first full season runner-up. 2003, there was enough for Castroneves not again to win the league title in the now renamed IndyCar Series championship. He won the race in Madison and Nazareth and finished the season behind de Ferran, who finished second, third place in the championship.

In 2004, Castroneves with former Indy Racing League champion Hornish a new teammates at Team Penske. Castroneves held up this season against Hornish and was with a win in Fort Worth fourth overall. In 2005, the items changed in the team and Castroneves was first beaten by Hornish. Castroneves won the race in Richmond and finished sixth overall. In 2006 he decided with wins in St. Petersburg, Motegi, Fort Worth and Brooklyn, although four races for themselves, for the title, it was enough but again not. With 475 to 473 points he lost Hornish extremely tight and was behind his teammate and Dan Wheldon, who was also with 475 points runner-up, third parties. 2007 drove the Penske drivers with not for the title. With a win in St. Petersburg Castroneves was - a position behind Hornish - sixth in the drivers' standings.

Having Hornish Penske had left in 2008 and Castroneves receive with Ryan Briscoe a new teammates, he had in season again chances on the title. Although he only won the race in Sonoma, and Joliet, with eight second-place he had, however, until the last race weekend chances for the championship title. With 646 to 629 he admitted defeat at the end of Scott Dixon and was the second time vice-champion of the IndyCar Series.

After the end of the season 2008, Castroneves had to answer to charges of tax evasion. It was alleged that he had evaded a total of 5.5 million U.S. dollars between 1999 and 2004. During the investigation he was for 10 million dollars free on bail and was allowed even when not walking in the scoring race in Surfers Paradise, Australia start. For the 2009 season, Castroneves was first released from the team and replaced by Will Power. Shortly before the second race of the 2009 season was Castroneves after the process was completed, acquitted of all charges. Castroneves won his cockpit back immediately and Power, who had represented him in the meantime, received in some races a third Penske car.

Castroneves was a strong comeback and won in 2009 for the third time Indianapolis 500 Two races later in Fort Worth was followed by another victory. In the championship, however, he could not intervene and he was beaten and his teammate Briscoe. At the end of the season he finished fourth overall. 2010 Power received a complete cockpit at Penske, which took from now on with three cars. After Castroneves had won earlier in the season the race in Birmingham, he secured the third last race in Sparta another victory. He relied on a different strategy and waived a stop within the last few laps. While placed in front of him all the pilots had to pit again, Castroneves took the lead and won the race. A race later in Motegi he managed another victory. He started from the pole position, achieved the fastest lap and led the race over three-quarters of the race. While his teammate won the Power runner-up title, he finally finished fourth in the drivers' standings.

2011 Castroneves denied his eleventh season with Penske IndyCar. It was his first winless season in the IndyCar Series and his first season without a win at all since 1999. Since he had the IndyCar race director Brian Barnhart after the race at Motegi called a " circus clown ", he added the last two races of the season on probation. Castroneves had previously been set back from the 7th to the 22th place for overtaking under a yellow flag. The season he finished as the worst Penske pilot with two second places as the eleventh best results overall. He also took part in two races of the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

2012 remained Castroneves with Penske, who received a new engine with Chevrolet partner in the IndyCar Series. He managed to equal the season-opening race in St. Petersburg to decide for themselves. It was his third victory in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. After the race, Castroneves fell to with a specific gesture. As usual, he scaled the barriers, but this time not on the start -finish straight, but in a section of which was named after the late in the IndyCar Series 2011 Dan Wheldon. With a third place at the following race in Birmingham he kept the lead in the overall standings before he made this after the third race to his teammate Power. Later in the season he won the Edmonton Indy for itself. Castroneves finally was on the fourth place in the drivers' standings, while Power was runner-up. In addition, Castroneves took part in a race in the Stock Car Brasil as a guest. 2013 reduced Penske IndyCar his team from three to two vehicles. Castroneves kept, as well as power, its cockpit. At the season opener in Saint Petersburg was Castroneves the most laps in the lead and finished second. A race later in Birmingham Castroneves came in third place and took the lead in the drivers' standings. This he lost his home race in São Paulo, where he crossed the finish line in 13th place. After he had recovered in Detroit the lead with a fifth place, he won the subsequent race in Fort Worth. In West Allis and Toronto, he was in second again on the podium. In the intervening race Castroneves was always in the top -10 finish. In the first 16 races Castroneves completed every lap of the race. In the second to last event, the Shell and Pennzoil Grand Prix of Houston, which consisted of two races, Castroneves had at the beginning of the weekend, a lead of 49 points over second-placed Dixon. In both races had Castroneves technical problems that forced him to long stops for repairs. Since Dixon won a race, and second once was, Castroneves fell in the championship behind him. At the last race of the season in Fontana Castroneves came in sixth place behind a Dixon to the finish. He was the third time overall second in the IndyCar Series. He defeated Dixon with 550 to 577 points. Castroneves was 2013 bestplatzierteste Chevrolet drivers. Penske internally he sat down for the first time against Power, who scored 498 points through. In addition, Castroneves took part in a meeting of the Stock Car Brasil. He had a serious accident in training, he survived with minor injuries.

2014 remained Castroneves along with Power at Penske and received with Juan Pablo Montoya another teammate.

Personal

Hélio Castroneves lives with his longtime girlfriend Adriana Henao together in Miami. The two are parents of a daughter since December 2009.

Castroneves, who is managed by his sister Katiucia is known to a wide audience in the United States because he has won, among others, at the 2007 American TV show Dancing with the Stars. In 2012 he took part in an All-Stars version of Dancing with the Stars.

The fans gave him the name Spider-Man, as he climbs after his victories traditionally with helmet and racing overalls at the fence line of the boundary to be celebrated itself.

Records

Castroneves is the pilot with the most pole positions ( 32) in the IndyCar Series. In addition, he managed to win at least one race in ten consecutive seasons and thus holds the record for most consecutive seasons with a win.

Statistics

Career stations

• 2001: CART (4th place )
• 2001: Indy Racing League ( 24th place )
• 2002: Indy Racing League (2nd place)
• 2003: IndyCar Series ( 3rd place)
• 2004: IndyCar Series (4th place )
• 2005: IndyCar Series ( 6th place)
• 2006: IndyCar Series ( 3rd place)
• 2007: IndyCar Series ( 6th place)
• 2007: Rolex Sports Car Series, DP ( number 63 )
• 2007: ALMS LMP2 ( 16th place)

• 2008: IndyCar Series (2nd place)
• 2008: Rolex Sports Car Series, DP ( place 46)
• 2008: ALMS LMP2 ( 12th place)
• 2009: IndyCar Series (4th place )
• 2010: IndyCar Series (4th place )
• 2011: IndyCar Series (No. 11)
• 2011: V8 Supercar Championship Series (No. 63)
• 2012: IndyCar Series (4th place )
• 2013: IndyCar Series (2nd place)
• 2014: IndyCar Series

Individual results in the CART series

( Legend)

Individual results in the IndyCar Series

( Legend)