Helio Castroneves


Helio Castroneves Biography(Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)


Hélio Castroneves (; born Hélio Castro Neves; May 10, 1975) is a Brazilian auto racing driver currently competing in the North American IndyCar Series. In IndyCar competition, Castroneves has 21 wins and 32 poles, and has never placed lower than sixth in the standings in a complete season of racing till 2011, where he placed eleventh. Prior to IndyCar, Castroneves competed in the CART championship with a highest championship points finish of fourth.

Castroneves won the Indianapolis 500 in 2001, 2002 and 2009, making him one of only nine drivers to date 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.

Racing career

Born in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, South America, Castroneves started his career in karting, and later raced in the Paul Stewart Racing team, and finished third in the 1995 British Formula Three Championship.

After being occasionally misidentified by U.S. media as "Helio Neves" he at first changed the spelling to Helio Castro-Neves and then to the current spelling. He has one sister, Katiucia. Castroneves was first recognized 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, Helio 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. 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). 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 May 24, 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.

Records

Castroneves currently holds IRL IndyCar Series records for most top-ten finishes (93); Poles (30); and most consecutive seasons with a race win (10). 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 Indy and compatriot Raul Boesel at Richmond respectively. 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. Castroneves returned to Dancing with the Stars for its 15th season for a chance to win another mirrorball trophy. This time he was be partnered with Chelsie Hightower. They were voted off in the third week of the competition during a double elimination.

Personal life

Castroneves and his girlfriend, Adriana Henao, welcomed a daughter, Mikaella, on December 28, 2009, at 4:15 pm (16:15) EST. She had been due January 6, 2010.

Castroneves is 1.73 meters (5 ft 8 in) tall and weighs 67 kg (147 lbs).

Legal issues

On October 2, 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, October 3, 2008. Castroneves pled not guilty to these charges on October 3, and was ordered released on $10 million bail. Castroneves was replaced by Will Power during the duration of his tax evasion court case. The IRS claimed that Castroneves owes $2.3 million in taxes. 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 October 31, 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 U.S. 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 U.S. taxes on the full $5 million from Penske even though he has 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.

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

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

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Rank Points
1998 Bettenhausen Racing MIA
Ret
MOT
11
LBH
9
NZR
Ret
RIO
Ret
STL
7
MIL
2
DET
12
POR
13
CLE
Ret
TOR
10
MIS
12
MDO
Ret
ROA
Ret
VAN
Ret
LS
Ret
HOU
Ret
SRF
Ret
FON
10
17th 36
1999 Hogan Racing MIA
Ret
MOT
9
LBH
19
NZR
Ret
RIO
Ret
STL
2
MIL
Ret
POR
Ret
CLE
Ret
ROA
Ret
TOR
Ret
MIS
Ret
DET
7
MDO
7
CHI
5
VAN
8
LS
Ret
HOU
Ret
SRF
Ret
FON
Ret
15th 48
2000 Team Penske MIA
Ret
LBH
2
RIO
Ret
MOT
13
NZR
Ret
MIL
16
DET
1
POR
7
CLE
Ret
TOR
Ret
MIS
5
CHI
Ret
MDO
1
ROA
9
VAN
Ret
LS
1
STL
9
HOU
5
SRF
6
FON
Ret
7th 129
2001 Team Penske MTY
8
LBH
1
TXS
C
NZR
11
MOT
2
MIL
Ret
DET
1
POR
17
CLE
12
TOR
Ret
MIS
8
CHI
7
MDO
1
ROA
7
VAN
18
LAU
12
ROC
4
HOU
5
LS
6
SRF
20
FON
Ret
4th 141

IndyCar Series

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
STL
CHI
TX2
24th 64
2002 Team Penske Dallara Chevrolet HMS
3
PHX
1
FON
5
NZR
5
INDY
1
TXS
4
PPIR
2
RIR
17
KAN
3
NSH
9
MIS
6
KTY
5
STL
2
CHI
4
TX2
2
2nd 511
2003 Team Penske Dallara Toyota HMS
3
PHX
2
MOT
22
INDY
2
TXS
7
PPIR
12
RIR
2
KAN
2
NSH
3
MIS
17
STL
1
KTY
5
NZR
1
CHI
20
FON
6
TX2
13
3rd 484
2004 Team Penske Dallara Toyota HMS
2
PHX
6
MOT
3
INDY
9
TXS
12
RIR
3
KAN
7
NSH
3
MIL
12
MIS
10
KTY
12
PPIR
6
NZR
5
CHI
10
FON
7
TX2
1
4th 446
2005 Team Penske Dallara Toyota HMS
5
PHX
2
STP
20
MOT
11
INDY
9
TXS
5
RIR
1
KAN
8
NSH
5
MIL
16
MIS
21
KTY
5
PPIR
4
SNM
21
CHI
2
WGL
12
FON
9
6th 440
2006 Team Penske Dallara Honda HMS
2
STP
1
MOT
1
INDY
25
WGL
7
TXS
1
RIR
10
KAN
6
NSH
5
MIL
14
MIS
1
KTY
3
SNM
5
CHI
4
3rd 473
2007 Team Penske Dallara Honda HMS
9
STP
1
MOT
7
KAN
3
INDY
3
MIL
16
TXS
16
IOW
8
RIR
11
WGL
18
NSH
6
MDO
3
MIS
17
KTY
9
SNM
2
DET
14
CHI
4
6th 446
2008 Team Penske Dallara Honda HMS
4
STP
2
MOT1
2
LBH1
DNP
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 Team Penske Dallara Honda STP3
DNP
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 Team Penske Dallara Honda 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 Team Penske Dallara Honda STP
20
ALA
7
LBH
12
SAO
21
INDY
17
TXS1
10
TXS2
4
MIL
9
IOW
7
TOR
17
EDM
2
MDO
19
NHM
17
SNM
2
BAL
17
MOT
22
KTY
29
LVS
C
11th 312
2012 Team Penske 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
* Season still in progress
1 Because of Champ Car/IRL Reunification in 2008, a compromise was set up where former Champ Car teams raced at Long Beach with the old formula, while IRL teams raced at Motegi that weekend. The Penske team raced at Motegi.
2 Non-points-paying, exhibition race because of Reunification
3 Missed race due to his then-ongoing tax evasion trial. Will Power drove #3 entry in place of Castroneves.
Years Teams Races Poles Wins Podiums
(Non-win)**
Top 10s
(Non-podium)***
Indianapolis 500
Wins
Championships
12 1 156 32 20 36 63 3 (2001, 2002, and 2009) 0
** Podium (Non-win) indicates 2nd or 3rd place finishes.
*** Top 10s (Non-podium) indicates 4th through 10th place finishes.

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
Castroneves's 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 Penske Racing LMP2 Porsche RS Spyder Evo Porsche MR6 3.4L V8 SEB
5/3
STP LNB TEX UTA LIM MID AME MOS DET PET MON 23rd 19
2008 Penske Motorsports, Inc. LMP2 Porsche RS Spyder Evo Porsche MR6 3.4L V8 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



This biography article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hélio Castroneves". Reality TV World is not responsible for any errors or omissions this article may contain.



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