Castroneves Wins IndyCar Season Opener

{fshare id=2384}

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Sunday, March 25, 2012) – Helio Castroneves ended a winless drought of more than a year by winning the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg for the third time on March 25.  With the win, Castroneves ties Rodger Ward for 13th on the all-time win list. His last win was at Twin Ring Motegi in 2010.

Castroneves, driving the No. 3 Shell V-Power/Pennzoil Ultra Team Penske Chevrolet, passed Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon for second place with a pass on the outside of Turn 1 on Lap 73 and went on to score the 26th win of his Indy car career.

Dixon finished second in his Honda-powered car, followed by Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport in a Chevrolet-powered car. James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Briscoe rounded out the top-five.  It is Dixon’s third runner-up finish in St. Petersburg. All have been to Castroneves.

 

It was an emotional day for the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner. After taking the checkered flag, Castroneves stopped his car at Turn 10 and honored the late Dan Wheldon by climbing the fence and patting the “Dan Wheldon Way” sign located there.

Share and Enjoy !

Shares