Helio Castroneves may start back in the 27th starting position for this week’s Indy 500, but only a fool would write off his chances to become the sport’s first five-time winner of the biggest spectacle in motorsports.
Winner of the ‘01,’02,’09, and ‘21 races, Castroneves joined the club of 4-time winners that includes AJ Foyt, Rick Mears, and Al Unser Sr. At a young and energetic 47 years of age, Helio shows no signs of slowing down and few things would be better for the live crowd or the sport in general than to see history be made this Sunday at the brickyard.
He has the car and the experience, to that there is no doubt. He also has the confidence that he can still make magic happen around the 2.5-mile oval coming off his victory last year. As with the other 32 drivers lining up to start the race though he will need an extra boost from lady luck over the long 500-mile race.
Barring getting caught up in any back-of-the-pack incidents, few would be surprised for him to work his way up into the top 15 in fairly short order. From there pit strategy, fuel strategy, and luck will all play a role.
A resurgent Indycar series that has grown in TV Viewership by 230% since 2018 could use and needs all of the high-profile publicity that it can get. Few drivers light up a room or a TV screen like Castroneves with his youthful energy and looks and no lack of charisma. Add to that someone would be a back-to-back winner and history’s first five-time victor and that would be music to the ears of series owner Roger Penske and all fans looking to see IndyCar rise back to near the top of the auto racing pecking order.