Elusive IRL title motivates Castroneves at Homestead
Two-time Indy 500 champ gets a push from his new teammate, ex-IRL champ Sam Hornish.
By BRANT JAMES
Published February 28, 2004
Helio Castroneves doubts he will have Sam Hornish climbing catch fences this season. He hopes to use his trademark victory celebration, the one he made popular after twice winning the Indianapolis 500, a lot more than his new teammate anyway.
Though it might be fun off the track trying to coax emotion from his staid Penske Racing partner, the charismatic Brazilian begins his third Indy Racing League season Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway with more on his mind than meshing with a teammate who has been an impediment to his career goals. Castroneves wants to add a driver championship to his resume.
Recent history suggests winning at Miami portends good things. The past three winners have won series titles.
"The Indy 500 is one of the most prestigious races that everybody would like to be fortunate to win," said Castroneves, who drives the No.3 Toyota. "But as far as the championship, that's something that I'll always have in mind. So this year I won't chose one, but I'll choose both of them, Indianapolis and the IndyCar series championship. Trust me, I'm not selfish, but it's something that I have wished for for a long time."
With Indy 500 victories in 2001 and 2002, Castroneves, 28, is one of five drivers to win the sport's most coveted prize in consecutive years. He was runnerup, .299 seconds behind teammate Gil de Ferran, in 2003. But a driver title has been elusive. Castroneves finished second in the final standings behind Hornish in 2002 and third to Scott Dixon in 2003. He need look no farther than across the Penske Racing compound to see one of the main obstacles to attaining that goal: Hornish, the IRL's first two-time champion and its leader in career victories (11).
Still, Hornish has things to covet, having finished no better than 14th in four Indy 500s. Racing the No.6 for a team with a record 13 Indy 500 wins has him hoping he has found the path to the Borg-Warner Trophy.
"With the success that Team Penske has and just their love for winning that race, I think that this is definitely my best opportunity to do it," he said. "It may take a year or two. But hopefully not that long."
Hornish, 24, is not used to waiting. The youngest modern winner of a major North American open-wheel series when he won the 2001 IRL title, he left Panther Racing in search of a new challenge. The departure of crew chief Kevin Blanch to a job with the IRL made the decision easier. Widely speculated to be considering a jump to NASCAR, Hornish decided instead to take an offer to replace the retiring de Ferran, a close friend of Castroneves, in the second Penske car. It is difficult to call Hornish a second driver, however. Though such marriages of talent and ego have been tempestuous, Castroneves thinks he and Hornish are professional enough to thrive.
"With Sam now, we fought two years on the championship and stuff like that," Castroneves said. "He definitely knows what he is doing. I guess with that, I have a lot to learn with him. He's fast and wants to win races. He does have a different personality than me. He's a little quieter. I guess that's his way."
People forget, Castroneves said, that he and de Ferran were not fast friends.
"At the beginning of 2000, Gil and I were not buddies or friends because we were competitors," Castroneves said. "He was still competitive through the last race of the season last year. But I guess it's a relationship that depends if both want it to happen."
If opposites attract, they should become close. In Penske biographical materials, Castroneves lists his favorite night out as a "nice dinner with great company," while Hornish prefers "staying in."
Favorite vacation spot?
Castroneves: Brazilian beaches. Hornish: Home (Defiance, Ohio).
Guilty pleasure?
Castroneves: Chocolate. Hornish: Sleeping as much as possible.
"It is kind of like the odd couple," Hornish said. "But I heard Gil say one time when it starts out, you are trying not to like him, but it is kind of hard not to. I think that's probably how it's going to work. He has so much energy and, you know, so much exuberance I guess, so excited about things. ... I am pretty low-key, but I think we both got pretty good senses of humor even if they are pretty much different. I have had a good time so far."
The merriment in just getting started.
"He's different, but he's a fun guy," Castroneves said. "Give me time. Give me a little time, and hopefully, he's going to turn out to be all right - which he already is."
