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close'Other guy' not bad for Penske
Castroneves has strong credentials, but Hornish has more recent success
Associated Press
Tuesday, May. 22, 2007
Helio Castroneves came back to Indianapolis carrying all those familiar titles. Two-time winner, former pole-sitter and fan favorite.
He also returned to his career-defining race with a new identity: Roger Penske's other guy.
Castroneves welcomes the change.
"I have to say I am a little more relaxed, and that's good," he said. "I can focus a little more on my job and a little less on all those other things."
At least that's the way it was until he won this year's pole.
On another team, all those media requests, sponsor appearances and autograph sessions would fall primarily to Castroneves, one of five drivers with back-to-back Indianapolis 500 wins. For most of May, though, Castroneves has worked in the shadow of teammate Sam Hornish Jr., the defending Indy champion.
Clearly, Castroneves possesses star qualities. He's flamboyant, charming, hangs out with high-profile neighbors in Miami, climbs walls when he wins, and, of course, drives for the IndyCar series' most prestigious team.
He's played tennis matches against Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis and given motivational speeches to the Indianapolis Colts. He boxes, swims, runs and speaks three languages -- Spanish, English and Portuguese.
But on Team Penske, the top rewards go to the biggest winner -- and over the past year, that's been Hornish's role.
Hornish took the pole at Indy last year, then won the race with a remarkable pass of Marco Andretti yards from the finish line. The victory margin, 0.0635 seconds, was the second-narrowest in the 90-year history of the race and is considered one of the most memorable.
It wasn't just Indy that cemented Hornish's image.
By season's end, he had reached Victory Lane four times and finished second five more times, enough to become the series' first driver with three career points titles.
Tracy cleared to return to driving
INDIANAPOLIS -- Paul Tracy was cleared to drive and will return to Forsythe Racing for the June 10 Mazda Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland after missing the past two races with a back injury.
The 2003 series champion broke a bone in his lower back during practice last month. He began rehabilitation almost immediately and was given the OK to drive after a checkup in Indianapolis last week.