INDIANAPOLIS — Helio Castroneves slammed the brakes of his red-and- white race car on pit road, climbed onto the sidepod and thrust both fists in the air.
The crowd at Indianapolis Motor Speedway roared.
“We love you, Helio!” a woman screamed.
What a month it’s been for the driver/dance champion/fence climber — and it just keeps getting better.
In the space of a few hours Friday, Castroneves learned the remaining tax-evasion charge against him had been dropped by the federal government, then he posted the fastest speed in the final practice for the Indy 500, then he won a pit-stop competition with the help of his Penske Racing crew.
All that good news came on the heels of Castroneves capturing the pole for Sunday’s race, making him one of the favorites to win “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing” for a third time, a victory that would leave him trailing only A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears — the gold standard at the ol’ Brickyard.
“This month just keeps getting better and better,” said Castroneves, struggling to hold back tears. “This is the last page in my book.”
Well, not quite, but he’s already got quite a story.
Maternity road.
Alex Lloyd’s wife, Samantha, has drawn much of the attention this week because of her impending due date, which is Sunday.
And pit road is becoming a maternity ward.
Ed Carpenter’s wife, Heather, is due June 1 and is expected to watch the race from the pits too.
And pit reporter Brienne Pedigo, of ABC and ESPN, will be in a special fire suit because she and her husband, Tyler Christopher, a television actor, are expecting their first child in October. The special fire suit is equipped with a stretch gusset in the back so it can be expanded.
The Associated Press
