Name	Helio Castroneves
Height	5' 8"
Naionality	Brazilian
Date of Birth	May 10, 1975
Place of Birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Famous for

When Helio Castroneves took the checkered flag at the 86th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race on May 26th, 2002 he became part of an exclusive club in auto racing. Castroneves became the first driver to win the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” two years in a row since Al Unser won in 1970 and 1971; and only the fifth driver in Indianapolis 500 history to win in consecutive appearances. At the age of 27, Castroneves became the youngest driver to win the race twice and the only driver ever to win in his first two attempts.

When ESPN The Magazine named Helio Castroneves the “Next Hottest Racecar Driver” in the 2000 edition of the annual year-end Next issue, little did they know how “hot” he would really become. Castroneves landed his dream ride with Team Penske in 2000; Since then he has captured 29 poles, finished in the top-three 43 times, led 3,279 laps and brought home 18 wins, including the 2001 and 2002 Indianapolis 500’s.

In 2007, Castroneves continued his success, as he won an IndyCar Series record seven poles, including his second career pole at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He also added his second consecutive win at St. Petersburg, giving him at least one win in eight years with Team Penske, breaking Rick Mears’ record of seven.

Castroneves is known for his signature victory celebration of climbing the fence after taking the checkered flag. His witty attitude and bright smile coupled with his unpredictable outbursts of unbridled enthusiasm make him one of the shining stars in open-wheel racing and have landed him on the pages of People, Cosmopolitan, Esquire and Sports Illustrated. In 2007, he competed on ABC’s hit television show “Dancing with the Stars” and a combination of his charismatic personality, intense training and dancing skills won him the hearts of millions of new fans and the coveted Mirror Ball trophy as the show’s champion.

Castroneves started his career at the age of 14 racing go-karts in his homeland of Brazil. Born and raised in Sao Paulo, he is very close with his family. His only sibling, sister Kati, travels with him to most races while she handles his day-to-day business.

Castroneves’ celebrity status has afforded him an array of opportunities worldwide, the highlight of which came in 2004, when he had the once-in-alifetime experience of a private audience with Pope John Paul II while visiting Vatican City. His closet is full of clothes by designer Hugo Boss, and his garage boasts a 2006 Acura RL; a 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo; the 2001 Indianapolis 500 Pace Vehicle Oldsmobile Bravada; and a 50th Anniversary Special Edition Chevrolet Corvette which he received for winning the 2002 Indianapolis 500. Helio is single and currently resides in Coral Gables, Fla.