What to know about four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves
Here's what you should know about IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 driver Helio Castroneves.
How many Indy 500s has Helio Castroneves won?
Helio Castroneves, who capped a chaotic, pass-happy 105th Indianapolis 500 with an incredible triumph, has now won the Indy 500 four times: as a rookie in 2001, in 2002, 2009 and 2021.
Castroneves passed Spain's Alex Palou on the closing laps and barely held on at the yard of bricks as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway crowd roared with excitement.
Castroneves is one of only four drivers to win the race four times. The others are A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears.
Drivers with 3 Indy 500 victories include Louis Meyer, Wilbur Shaw, Mauri Rose, Johnny Rutherford, Bobby Unser and Dario Franchitti.
Is Helio Castroneves the oldest Indy 500 winner?
No. He earned his fourth Indy 500 win at age 46 in 2021. A.J. Foyt and Al Unser both won at age 47. Unser just less than a week from his 48th birthday.
Helio Castroneves wins 2002 Indy 500 despite controversy with Paul Tracy
Castroneves made it back-to-back race wins in his second start in 2002. He was narrowly leading Paul Tracy on the 199th lap when an accident behind them brought out a race-ending caution.
However, you will never convince Tracy that he was trailing Castroneves at the time the caution fell.
"I think it's me that won," Tracy said. "I know I was ahead of him. I passed him, then the yellow came out."
Said Castroneves: "I don't understand why they're saying (Tracy) passed me. The only reason he passed me was because the yellow came out and I lifted off (the accelerator)."
Tracy's team protested the result to no avail.
Castroneves was the first back-to-back race winner since Al Unser in 1970 and '71. There hasn't been one since.
Helio Castroneves has finished second in the Indy 500 three times
Castroneves has finished second on three occasions: in 2003, 2014 and 2017.
In 2014, Ryan Hunter-Reay slipped past Castroneves with two laps to go and held him off by barely more than a car length at the finish line.
"Great race. It's interesting when second place kind of sucks, you know?" Castroneves said. "But certainly I'm taking the positive out of this. ... He did everything he could. I did everything I could, obviously."
In 2017, Castroneves stalked Takuma Sato over the final five laps, only to come two-tenths of a second short.
"I did everything I could — trust me," he said. "... Finishing second again sucks. So close — again — to our fourth. I'm really trying. I'm not going to giving up this dream. I know it's going to happen."
Who has won the most money for winning the Indy 500?
Castroneves won $3,048,005 for winning the 2009 Indy 500.
How many races has Castroneves won?
Castroneves has won 31 Indy car races, including those in CART/Champ Car World Series and the IndyCar Series. He was a rookie in 1998.
How old is Helio Castroneves?
Castroneves is 46 years old.
Where is Helio Castroneves from?
Castroneves is from Brazil.
Did Helio Castroneves win 'Dancing with the Stars'?
Castroneves won the fifth season of DWTS in 2007 with partner Julianne Hough. He also competed in the 15th season of DWTS with Chelsie Hightower.
What team does Helio Castroneves drive for?
Castroneves drives the No. 06 car for Meyer Shank Racing, using a Honda engine.
He drove in his first 20 Indy 500s, through 2020, for Team Penske.
Helio Castroneves tax case
Castroneves was accused of federal tax evasion for allegedly hiding about $5.5 million in earnings between 1999-2004. He was acquitted on five of six charges during a 2009 trial, and the final charge was dropped the week before the Indy 500, which he won.
"I think my tears speak for everything," he said after taking the checkered flag.
"Thank you for giving me my life back," Castroneves told team owner Roger Penske, who earned his 15th Indy 500 win that day.
Helio Castroneves wife, family
He has been a longtime partner of Adriana Henao, and they have a daughter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Helio Castroneves: What to know about 2021 Indy 500 winner
