INDIANAPOLIS – Thirty years after Rick Mears became the third four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, Helio Castroneves finally joined his mentor in that prestigious group by winning a thrilling 105th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
For 12 years, Castroneves has searched for that elusive fourth Indianapolis 500 win that would have placed him alongside A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Mears as the only four-time Indianapolis 500 winners.
Many thought Castroneves was running out of chances, especially considering losing extremely close battles with Ryan Hunter-Reay in 2014 and Takuma Sato in 2017.
In his first Indianapolis 500 with a team other than Team Penske, the popular Brazilian gave Meyer Shank Racing its first NTT IndyCar Series victory and it came in the biggest race of them all.
RESULTS: 105th Running Of The Indianapolis 500
Castroneves passed Alex Palou entering turn one at the beginning of lap 199. Two laps later, Castroneves drove to the checkered flag, .428 seconds head of Palou in the No. 10 NTT DATA Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
At 46 years, 20 days old, Castroneves became the fourth-oldest winner in Indianapolis 500 history behind Al Unser (47 in 1987), Bobby Unser (47 in 1981) and Emerson Fittipaldi (46 in 1993).
The crowd that appeared to be well in excess of the 137,000 spectators allowed by the Marion County Board of Health and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett erupted in a celebration as Castroneves finally earned his elusive fourth Indianapolis 500 victory.
He celebrated by climbing the fence, with his trademark move, but this time he was joined by team co-owners Michael Shank and Jim Meyer, as well as his No. 06 crew. The fans cheered wildly, and Castroneves began to run down the frontstretch toward turn four to pay honor to the throng of spectators that began to chant, “Helio! Helio! Helio!”
It wasn’t just a victory celebration; it was an outpouring of love from fans that were denied the opportunity to attend the 104th Indianapolis 500 last August when local health officials convinced Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske to conduct the race without fans.
“It was such a great moment for everyone, especially after last year, being so difficult with the pandemic, everybody comes back,” Castroneves said. “It was very, very nice for everyone to celebrate.
“I couldn’t be more happier. I couldn’t be more happier for Mike Shank, for Jim Meyer. They did everything they told me, which is they promised to give me a good car. I said, ‘All right. If that happens, we have a great chance. Just give me a chance to fight, opportunity to be up there, then I will fight.’ And they did.
“What a great moment. Amazing to follow in this group with Al Unser Sr., A.J. Foyt, and my hero Rick Mears. Super honored to be in this group. But more important is I love to be surrounded by great people. It was great to be with Penske, and now my new friends, I really am having a great time. New opportunity with this amazing team. Look what they’re showing. They’re showing already with Jack, several races here.
“It’s a matter of time. This is a great group of people. That’s why I love it.”
It was certainly one of the most unpredictable Indianapolis 500s in recent years, but it had a historic finish. In addition to Castroneves becoming the fourth four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, it was also the fastest Indianapolis 500 in history with an average speed of 190.690 mph. That broke the record of 187.433 mph in 2013.
It was also the first time the number 06 won the Indianapolis 500 and the first time a number starting with zero won the race.
Scott Dixon was considered the favorite entering the race after winning his fourth Indiaanpolis 500 pole one week ago. His chance at a second Indianapolis 500 win was unexpectedly thwarted on lap 33 when Stefan Wilson, driving in his first Indianapolis 500 since 2018, spun his No. 25 Honda at the entry to pit road. That brought out the first caution flag of the race, and dramatically changed the prospects for Dixon.
With the pits closed, Dixon along with Tony Kanaan, Jack Harvey, Palou, and Marcus Ericsson had to pit for emergency service on lap 36 because they were about to run out of fuel.
Dixon’s engine would not refire and by the time the crew was able to get it to start, he was one lap down. The same thing happened to Alexander Rossi, and they would have to stretch fuel mileage in order to get on a different strategy that would help them get back in contention.
During the middle portions of the race, it became a fierce battle involving such drivers as Rinus VeeKay, Conor Daly and on lap 71, Castroneves. Pato O’Ward would take the lead on lap 103 before Graham Rahal took the lead on lap 114.
Rahal appeared to be a leading contender to win the race before he made a fateful pit stop on lap 118 for four tires and fuel. The crew was unable to get his left-rear tire tightened and by the time he returned to the track in turn two, the tire came off, sending Rahal’s car into a spin and into the turn two wall.
Daly’s No. 47 Chevrolet hit the errant wheel, punting it toward the infield. Luckily, there was no infield general admission crowds allowed at this year’s race.
When racing resumed, it was a battle between Palou, O’Ward and Castroneves. Green flag pit stops began on lap 136.
Dixon, who was on a different fuel strategy after his issue in the pits earlier in the race, was the leader on lap 158. He pitted for the final time on lap 162. His fuel strategy put him in position to contend if the other drivers in the field had to make another pit stop.
With 20 laps to go, Arrow Schmidt McLaren SP driver Felix Rosenqvist was in the lead. With 16 to go, Rosenqvist, J.R. Hildebrand and defending winner Sato were the top three, but all had to pit one more time.
Castroneves was fourth and engaged in a tremendous battle with Palou, who passed Castroneves for position on lap 186. Simon Pagenaud, the 2019 race winner, was charging from the rear and was up to sixth place with 10 laps to go.
Castroneves passed Palou with seven laps to go as the was the first to make a move in the final 10 laps of the contest.
Palou took the lead with three to go but Castroneves did not give up, taking the lead for good with two to go and driving into Indianapolis 500 history as the fourth four-time winner in the biggest race in the world.
“I dream big,” Castroneves said. “This is a dedication of hard work, getting the right people. But I can’t do it on my own. I have to give credit to Mike and Jim. Mike especially to putting the people together. I tell even the boys, I had some guys that worked with Ganassi for a long time, they have experience, I have some new guys that were able to connect. The great engineer. I have to give the credit for the Andretti Autosport because they received me with the arms wide open. There was not a moment that they kind of look around. They have their own system. I learned from their own system. With that I gained, like, five other teammates, five or six other teammates. Jack and I work together, too.
“Again, for me it was great to understand. I wouldn’t be able to do it without those peoples. I’m so grateful for that.”
The two previous times before Sunday when Castroneves had a chance to win, he lost to Hunter-Reay in 2014 and Sato in 2017.
He refused to be denied on Sunday.
“Too many times finishing second, you better learn,” Castroneves said. “I did. I used that experience to make sure that I bring the win.
“We did.
“I never stopped dreaming. I never stopped believing it. I’m so glad I did that because I want to know those young kids, sometimes they think hard work doesn’t pay off. It just proof you still can believe in yourself and make yourself better.”