Hélio Castroneves (Portuguese pronunciation:[ˈɛljuˈkastɾuˈnɛvis]; bornHélio Alves de Castro Neves; 10 May 1975) is a Brazilianauto racing driver. He competes part-time in theIndyCar Series, driving the No. 06Dallara-Honda forMeyer Shank Racing. He is one of four drivers to have won theIndianapolis 500 a record four times: in2001,2002,2009, and2021. He was runner-up in theIndyCar Series drivers' championship in2002,2008,2013, and2014. Castroneves has also competed in theIMSA SportsCar Championship, where he won the overall championship in2020 withTeam Penske. He is a three-time winner of the24 Hours of Daytona, consecutively in2021 withWayne Taylor Racing and2022 and2023 with Meyer Shank, and wonPetit Le Mans two times.
Castroneves began competitivego-karting at age 10, before progressing to car racing, in the Formula Chevrolet Brazil,Formula 3 Sudamericana, theBritish Formula Three Championship, andIndy Lights. He enteredChampionship Auto Racing Teams (CART) in1998 withBettenhausen Racing and withHogan Racing in1999, achieving one second place each with both teams. Castroneves moved to Team Penske in place ofGreg Moore for2000 and2001, winning three races in both years.
He debuted in the Indy Racing League (IRL) in2001, competing in two races for Penske and winning the Indianapolis 500. Castroneves drove full time in the IRL from2002, winning the Indy 500 for a second straight year and finishing runner-up toSam Hornish Jr. in the championship. He finished third in2003 and2006 and was runner-up toScott Dixon in 2008. During the2009 season, he won the Indianapolis 500 for the third time and finished fourth in the points standings. He was fourth again in two of the next three seasons, before coming second to Dixon in 2013 and his Penske teammateWill Power in 2014. Castroneves achieved one further series win in2017 before leaving full-time IndyCar racing to make his IMSA SportsCar Championship debut with Penske at the2017 Petit Le Mans, paired withRicky Taylor. He won one race and finished seventh in the2018 Prototype standings and improved to third with five podiums in2019. In2020, he would win four races en route to his first auto racing title.
One of the most popular drivers in IndyCar, his celebration of climbing the fencing beside the track after a victory, would earn him the nickname "Spider-Man". Castroneves has represented IndyCar in theInternational Race of Champions series, theRace of Champions event, and theSuperstar Racing Experience. Among other media appearances, Castroneves won thefifth season ofDancing with the Stars with professional dancerJulianne Hough.
Castroneves was born inSão Paulo, Brazil on 10 May 1975,[1][2] to automobile dealer Hélio Castro Neves and former school teacher Sandra Alves de Castro Neves.[3][4] He has an elder sister, Katiucia,[5] who is his business manager.[6] In 1977, the family moved toRibeirão Preto,[7] an agricultural town about 150 mi (240 km) northwest of São Paulo,[5][6] to allow his father to find business in the region's thriving ethanol processing industry.[3] He was educated in the São Paulo school system.[8] In 2000, he changed his surname from Castro Neves to Castroneves to stop the media misidentifying him as "Helio Neves" or "Helio Castro".[9] Castroneves has a daughter with his long-time partner Adriana Henao.[10]
From early 1981 to 1986, Castroneves observed his father's minor stock car team race on weekends by being sneaked into a car's trunk in racing overalls and helmet, allowing him into a circuit.[a][6] At age seven, he was given a child-sized motorized car for frequent driving on the streets of hisgated community and asked his father about ago-kart.[11] On his 11th birthday, Castroneves received his first go-kart from race car driver Alfredo Guaraná Menezes,[3] and began driving at a karting track in São Paulo.[6] His mother disliked racing, urging him to focus on schooling and enrolling him in less dangerous sports,[6] such asassociation football,judo,swimming,tennis, andvolleyball. Castroneves played those sports infrequently before telling his mother he wanted to focus on racing.[12] He was inspired byAyrton Senna, a three-timeFormula One world champion.[13]
His father enrolled him in the Karting State Championships in São Paulo in early 1987. Castroneves won his first trophy mid-year by bettering himself, as his father sold hisRio de Janeiro property to establish and finance a karting team around his son.[12] At age 13, he was taken off full-time schooling to learn more aboutkarting from his father and team members. Castroneves' mother disapproved because she believed he could opt to stop karting and was fearful of him not having a backup career.[7] Castroneves won the 1989 Brazilian National Go-Kart Championship at age 14.[11] Around this time, he and his family began watchingChampionship Auto Racing Teams (CART) andFormula One racing on television. From October 1989 to March 1990, Castroneves did weightlifting and played tennis to improve his physique.[14]
In 1990, he forfeited the Brazilian National Go-Kart Championship and flew to Italy to enter the Karting World Cup to acquaint himself with the more powerful and grippier European go-karts. A mix-up of his registration papers with the Confederação Brasileira de Automobilismo (English: Brazilian Autosport Confederation) and talks with theCommission Internationale de Karting in Switzerland prevented him from entering until a fellow karter sustained an arm injury. Castroneves finished the race 16th.[15] He raced in the 1991 Karting World Cup in France without registration trouble,[15] finishing 25th,[16] and won more races in Brazil.[15]
Aged 16 in late 1991, Castroneves progressed into car racing, competing in Formula Chevrolet Brazil, a series for finishing go-karters. His parents hired a trainer to help him lift weights for better car control and took him to a local recreational center. Negotiations to drive for the Arisco team fell through when it asked for $200,000 in sponsorship, causing his father to spend $250,000 on his team.[17] Driving a Copral-Berta-Chevrolet car, Castroneves was championship runner-up with one victory and 92 points in the eight-round season. He moved to the higher-tierFormula 3 (F3) Sudamericana in1993 driving aRalt RT34-Mugen Honda car with Copral and later the funded Amir Nasr Racing Team.[b][16][19] Castroneves' five-year-old car was worn and had no aerial to communicate to his team by radio.[c][6] He was championship runner-up to Argentinean driverFernando Croceri with four victories, eight podium finishes and 57 points.[d][16]
Castroneves progressed to theBrazilian Formula Three Championship in1994 with the Amir Nasr Racing Team, finishing second overall with three victories, fourpole positions and 52 points from eight races.[16] For1995, Castroneves drove a Dallara F395-Mugen Honda car forPaul Stewart Racing in theBritish Formula Three Championship.[16][19] His father obtained sponsorship from a Brazilian bank,[19] and mid-way through 1995, sold his business assets, private company and Katicia's university apartment to help finance his son's career.[6] Castroneves was third in the drivers' championship with 169 points, six podiums and a win atDonington Park. He finished third in theMasters of Formula 3 atCircuit Zandvoort and crashed out of theMacau Grand Prix.[16]
In November 1995, aPhilip Morris International executive asked Castroneves whether he wanted to enter a four-dayIndy Lights (CART's developmental series) test session atPhoenix International Raceway'soval track against nine other drivers. Although he did not finish the test due to exhaustion, he signed to driveTasman Motorsports' third car with partial funding from the team and the rest from a corporate sponsor after another year in F3 was financially unfeasible.[20] Driving theNo. 8Lola T93/20-Buick car in the1996 season,[21] Castroneves won atCircuit Trois-Rivières and achieved seven top-tens for seventh overall with 84 points.[22] A series of accidents and Castroneves' lack of English frustrated him, and he briefly spoke to asports psychologist for help mid-season.[e][6]
For the1997 season, he remained at Tasman Motorsport, but was told his sponsor was leaving, forcing Katicia to promote him to several Brazilian companies. He and team owner Steve Horne agreed if he won five races, Horne would retain all prize monies until Castroneves paid him what he was owed, effectively driving for free.[25] Driving the No. 29Lola T97/20-Buick car,[16] Castroneves was championship runner-up to teammateTony Kanaan,[26] winning three of the twelve races, six top tens, four pole positions, and 152 points.[22] On 11 June 1997, the two-timeIndianapolis 500 winnerEmerson Fittipaldi became Castroneves' manager and sponsorship finder.[27][28]
In January 1998,Bettenhausen Racing ownerTony Bettenhausen Jr. invited him to test for his CART team atSebring International Raceway;[29] Castroneves signed to drive its No. 16Reynard 98I-Mercedes-Benz car in the1998 season,[30][31] and was assigned formerPenske Racing employee Tom Brown as hisrace engineer.[29] During practice for the season-opening Grand Prix of Miami atHomestead–Miami Speedway, Castroneves sustained a sore head in an accident but medical officials cleared him to race.[30] Castroneves achieved his first career top-ten finish in CART, a ninth at theGrand Prix of Long Beach, followed by a season-high second in theMiller 200 atMilwaukee Mile.[31] He was 17th in the drivers' championship with 36points,[31] and was second to Kanaan in theRookie of the Year standings.[26][32]
In mid-1998Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) wanted Castroneves to replace the Formula One-boundAlex Zanardi;Team Rahal were also interested in him. Fittipaldi blocked both deals as he felt Mercedes-Benz was CART's best engine.[30] Bettenhausen Racing fired Castroneves in January 1999, and replaced him with the sponsoredShigeaki Hattori.[32] Castroneves agreed with team owner Carl Hogan on 26 January to drive forHogan Racing in1999 in place ofJJ Lehto on the condition he paid $3 million in sponsorship to the team.[28][30] He drove the unreliable No. 9Lola B99/00-Mercedes-Benz car with an engine inconsistent in producing power.[31][33][34][35] Castroneves was ninth in theFirestone Firehawk 500K atTwin Ring Motegi, before coming second in theMotorola 300 atGateway International Raceway.[31] In theMiller Lite 225 at Milwaukee, Castroneves achieved his first CART pole position.[36] The rest of the season saw him achieve four more top-tens and finished 15th in the points standings with 48.[31]
Post-season, Hogan closed his CART team because Fittipaldi was unable to provide him with the requested sponsorship money and consequently, stopped paying Castroneves a salary.[37] Castroneves and his sister negotiated without Fittipaldi's help withWalker Racing to replace the outgoingGil de Ferran and also Team Rahal without success.[38] FollowingGreg Moore's death in an accident at the season-endingMarlboro 500 atCalifornia Speedway, Penske ownerRoger Penske, team presidentTim Cindric, attorneys, and sports agentAlan Miller hired Castroneves on a three-year contract for Castroneves after pressure from sponsor Marlboro to find a replacement driver by that date. Castroneves ended his working relationship with Fittipaldi soon after for career mismanagement.[f][39]
For the2000 season, Penske stopped building cars, switched to aReynard 2KI, changed engine manufacturers from Mercedes-Benz to Honda, and tire supplier fromGoodyear toFirestone in a bid to improve performance.[33][40] Castroneves found the Honda engine's driveability different from Mercedes-Benz's,[41] and was at first, not friends with his teammate de Ferran because they were competitors.[42] He finished second at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, his only points finish in the first six races. He led the final 24 laps of the Grand Prix of Detroit in his first series victory afterJuan Pablo Montoya retired with mechanical trouble. Castroneves won the Miller Lite 200 atMid-Ohio, took five top-tens, and a third victory in the Grand Prix of Monterey at Laguna Seca.[40] He was seventh in the drivers' championship with 129 points,[31] and was named the inaugural winner of the Greg Moore Legacy Award as "the driver who best typifies Moore's outstanding talent on the track as well as displaying a dynamic personality with the fans, media, and the CART community."[43]
In2001, he drove the No. 3Reynard 01I-Honda,[33] and journalist David Phillips considered him a championship contender.[44] Castroneves changed his strategy on a race-by-race basis, getting support from de Ferran and his teammate's pit crew.[45] At the season's second race, theGrand Prix of Long Beach, he led all 82 laps from pole position for his fourth career win.[46] Castroneves started from pole position in theFirestone Firehawk 500 at Motegi, leading more laps than any other driver to finish second, and led every lap of theGrand Prix of Detroit for his second victory of 2001.[47] He achieved a third win at theMiller Lite 200 to go one point behind championship leaderKenny Bräck,[48] and overtook the latter after finishing seventh in theMotorola 220.[49] Castroneves lost the points lead after coming 18th inIndy Vancouver, but claimed three top sixes in the final six races to finish fourth in the drivers' standings with 141 points.[31]
He debuted in theIndy Racing League (IRL) in2001, driving Penske's No. 68Dallara IR-01-Oldsmobile car,[31][33] at the season-opening Pennzoil Copper World Indy 200 at Phoenix to understand the series before theIndianapolis 500.[50] Castroneves started 17th but retired with engine failure after three-quarters race distance.[47] He qualified 11th for his first Indianapolis 500 and led the final 52 laps to win the race at his first attempt.[51]
Castroneves switched to the IRL from the2002 season since Marlboro wanted Penske to focus on the American market.[47] Penske changed engine manufacturers from Oldsmobile to Chevrolet for its Dallara IR-02 car.[33] At Phoenix for the season's second race, he won from pole position after passing his teammate de Ferran on the 183rd lap.[52] Castroneves' season highlight was theIndianapolis 500, which he won in controversial circumstances. With one-and-a-half laps remaining, CART driverPaul Tracy overtook Castroneves for the lead, just as theyellow caution flag light came on for a two-car accident betweenBuddy Lazier andLaurent Redon. IRL officials' rejected an appeal from Tracy's squadTeam Green, upholding Castroneves' second successive Indianapolis 500 victory.[g][1][54] He finished no lower than ninth in the next nine races,[31] battling his teammate De Ferran andPanther Racing'sSam Hornish Jr. for the championship.[55] Before the final round atTexas Motor Speedway Castroneves was 12 points behind Hornish and needed to win the race and for Hornish to finish third or lower to claim the championship.[56] He finished second, 0.010 seconds behind Hornish,[54] ending the season runner-up with 511 points.[31]
Before the2003 season, Penske allowed Castroneves to test for theToyota Formula One team atCircuit Paul Ricard in France before possible contract renewal. He impressed Toyota with his performance but was told CART championCristiano da Matta signed as a race driver for2003. Castroneves told Penske he would stay with the team, citing his fair and loyal treatment towards him.[57] The beginning of the season saw Castroneves earn two top threes in Homestead-Miami, Phoenix, and theIndianapolis 500.[31] Castroneves took two straight second places atRichmond International Raceway andKansas Speedway and won at Gateway International Raceway andNazareth Speedway to take the points to lead. Agearbox failure atChicagoland Speedway leaving him 20th and a sixth in California meant he entered the season-endingChevy 500 at Texas as one of five championship contenders and equal on points with CGR'sScott Dixon. A minor collision with Tony Kanaan took Castroneves out of title contention.[58] He was third in points with 484 scored.[31]
For the2004 season, Hornish joined Castroneves at Penske after De Ferran retired from IndyCar;[59] at first, the two did not speak to each other often because of their differing personalities.[60] He led most of the season-opening Toyota Indy 300 before Hornish passed him on the final lap to win. Castroneves qualified eighth for his fourthIndianapolis 500. A lack of horsepower against the Honda-powered cars caused him to finish the rain-shortened race ninth. Two races later, Castroneves' first pole position of the season came in the SunTrust Indy Challenge at Richmond, where he finished third.[61] He took eight more top tens, four pole positions,[31] and overtook Andretti Green Racing'sDan Wheldon to lead the final 21 laps of the season-ending race at Texas for his only win of 2004.[61] Castroneves' finished fourth in the drivers' championship with 440 points.[31]
Penske's performance in 2004 saw Castroneves being viewed as an outsider for the2005 title. He began the season with a fifth place in the Toyota Indy 300 and a second at the following XM Satellite Radio 200.[62] Starting theIndianapolis 500 from fifth position, Castroneves finished the race four places lower in ninth.[31] At Richmond for the SunTrust Indy Challenge two races later, he qualified second and led a race-high 112 laps to win.[63] The relationship between Castroneves and his teammate Hornish cooled after failed overtakes causing both drivers to collide.[62] He qualified on the pole position atPikes Peak International Raceway andWatkins Glen International and took six top-tens in the final ten races,[62] finishing with 440 points for sixth in the drivers' championship.[31]
Before the2006 season, Penske changed engine manufacturers from the under-powered Toyota to the more powerful Honda in its Dallara IR-05 car after Toyota withdrew from IndyCar.[64][33] Castroneves started fifth and led 40 laps for his first seriesroad course win in theGrand Prix of St. Petersburg.[31] He took a second successive victory at Motegi, leading 184 laps from pole position to lead Wheldon by 42 championship points entering theIndianapolis 500.[64] After qualifying second, handling difficulties caused him to strike the turn four concrete barrier,[64] leaving him 25th after 109 laps.[31] Castroneves won the Bombardier LearJet 500 after strategic errors by his teammate Hornish and CGR before tire problems at Kansas and a sixth place at Kansas lost him the points lead to Hornish. A victory atMichigan International Speedway gave Castroneves a one-point lead over Hornish going into the final race in Chicago.[64] A fourth-place put him third in points with 473.[31]
For the2007 season, Castroneves believed the competition would be stronger than in 2006.[65] The relationship between him and Hornish became cordial and the two shared information.[60] He began the year with four top nines,[31] leading 95 laps from pole position to win theGrand Prix of St. Petersburg.[66] He took his third careerIndianapolis 500 pole position,[31] finishing the rain-shortened race third after pre-race electrical and fueling problems.[67] At theABC Supply Company A.J. Foyt 225 at Milwaukee a week later, he took his third pole position of 2007, but a rear wing mounting failure on lap 201 caused him to crash while leading.[68] Castroneves took six top-nines, and three more pole positions in the final ten races for sixth overall in points with 446.[31]
Castroneves began the2008 season by finishing no lower than fourth in the first four rounds with consecutive second places at St. Petersburg and Motegi to take the early points lead.[69] He qualified fourth for theIndianapolis 500;[31] Castroneves lost the points lead to Dixon when front wing damage relegated him to fourth.[70] He finished second in both Texas and Richmond with consecutive pole positions at Nashville and Mid-Ohio, both of which did not result in a race victory.[31] Castroneves won thePeak Antifreeze Indy Grand Prix atInfineon Raceway leading a race-high 51 laps from pole position to end a 29-race winless streak.[71] After finishing second in Detroit for illegally blockingJustin Wilson, he entered the season-endingPeak Antifreeze Indy 300 30 points behind championship leader Dixon. Castroneves needed to win the race and for Dixon to finish 11th or lower to become the champion.[72] He began in 28th due to a track limit penalty, beating Dixon by 0.0033 seconds in the second-closest finish in series history,[73] ending the season second in points with 629.[31]
In late 2008, anInternal Revenue Service (IRS) jury charged Castroneves with conspiracy and six counts oftax evasion for failing to report $5.5 million of income earned from 1999 to 2004.[h] The issue came about when Alan Miller signed Castroneves to his first contract with Penske in early November 1999 following Greg Moore's sudden death at the1999 Marlboro 500. With heavy pressure from sponsors to fill Moore's vacant seat, the deal had to be completed in a matter of days. Due to time constraints, Miller rushed through the contract negotiations for Penske, simply striking out Moore's name on the contract documents, and hand-writing in Castroneves' name. He also struck out the name of Moore's promotion company (Greg Moore Enterprises, which Moore owned) and wrote in Seven Promotions, erroneously implying and identifying Castroneves as owning that company.[37] Castroneves, who had been investigated by the IRS since 2004 when it issued 150subpoenas to businesses and individuals who did business with him,[75] pleaded not guilty to the charges on 3 October, and was ordered released on a $10 million bail.[76] The IRS said he owed them $2.3 million in taxes.[77] The trial was held in March 2009 at theU.S. District Court in Miami. A guilty verdict in the trial would have likely sent Castroneves to prison, and ended his driving career.[78][79]
During the trial, his indictment centered around whether he used Seven Promotions as atax shelter to avoid paying U.S. taxes. The defense claimed Seven Promotions was a Panamanian company created by Castroneves' father (Helio Sr.) in early 1999 to improve his son's image in Brazil and to recruit sponsors. Prosecutors called that a lie, showing jurors documents claiming Castroneves owned Seven Productions, and that it was merely ashell corporation set up to obscure taxable income. An IRS agent testified Castroneves owed every amount of taxable income despite the driver not receiving any of it.[i][80] The defense argued Castroneves focused on racing rather than his income; he was unaware of his finances and disliked Dutch and Panamanian business dealings. They said he was uninterested and could not understand his finances and signed papers without knowing their meaning.[81] They also affirmed that the listing of Castroneves as the owner of Seven Promotions in the original Penske contract was a 'clerical error', and that other holes were later discovered in the contract, a result of haphazardly rushing through the negotiations.[37]
The trial ended with closing arguments on 10 April 2009. If found guilty, he faced a maximum prison sentence of 61⁄2 years with subsequent deportation because he was a non-American citizen, and the loss of his contracts with companies he endorsed and with Team Penske.[81] The jury deliberated until 17 April, when it acquitted Castroneves of the six counts ofcriminal tax evasion but hung on the conspiracy charge. On 22 May, with Castroneves atIndianapolis and back to driving, prosecutors dropped the remaining criminal conspiracy charge.[80] A few months later, Castroneves and his attorneys hand-delivered a check to the IRS for back taxes owed, seemingly closing the issue once and for all. About two years later, the IRS filed a $6.21 millioncivil lawsuit against Castroneves for additional taxes and fraud penalties.[82] The suit was settled before going to court for approximately 10 percent of what the IRS claimed.[83]
Castroneves signed a multi-year contract with Penske from the2009 season;[84]Will Power replaced him for the season-opening St. Petersburg race before Castroneves returned for theGrand Prix of Long Beach.[77] Castroneves' season highlight was theIndianapolis 500, where he qualified fastest, and led twice for a total of 66 laps for his third victory there.[85] In theBombardier Learjet 550 at Texas two races later, Castroneves achieved his second victory of 2009.[86] He took six more top-tens, including a second place in theEdmonton Indy,[31] and pole position in theIowa Corn Indy 250 atIowa Speedway.[87] Castroneves was eliminated from championship contention at Chicago,[88] and finished fourth overall with 433 points.[31]
For the2010 season, he felt Penske had reached the potential of its ageing Dallara-Honda car, and feared other teams would exploit this to close the performance gap.[89] Castroneves won the inauguralIndy Grand Prix of Alabama to extend his record of winning a race to ten straight seasons.[90] After qualifying on pole position for theIndianapolis 500, astall in a pit stop relegated him to ninth.[91] Five races later, at theHonda Indy Edmonton, Castroneves was the first to finish, but was demoted to tenth after he was deemed to have blocked his teammate Power.[92] He won two consecutive races, atKentucky Speedway and Motegi, before ending the season with a fifth at Homestead-Miami. With 531 points, Castroneves was fourth in the drivers' standings.[31]
The beginning of the2011 season saw him struggle in comparison with his previous years at Penske. Castroneves finished poorly as a result of three collisions in the first four races in St. Petersburg, Long Beach and São Paulo; his best result in that period was a seventh at Birmingham, putting him 17th overall by the time of theIndianapolis 500 in May.[93][94] Castroneves qualified 16th for the race;[31] a flat tire and vibration left him one lap down in 17th.[95] The rest of Castroneves' season included two-second places at Edmonton and Sonoma, and three top-nines. He was 11th overall with 312 points, his lowest finish since he was sixth in both 2005 and 2007. The 2011 season was the first since 1999 in which Castroneves did not achieve a race win.[31]
He signed a contract extension with Penske prior to the2012 season.[96] At the season-openingGrand Prix of St. Petersburg, Castroneves passedJ. R. Hildebrand with 26 laps to go to win.[97] He took pole position for the followingIndy Grand Prix of Alabama and finished third.[31] In theIndianapolis 500, Castroneves qualified sixth, but finished tenth due to his car lacking downforce.[98] He then took three sixth places at Milwaukee, Iowa and Toronto. and won theEdmonton Indy to draw within 23 points of championship leaderRyan Hunter-Reay.[99] Castroneves ended the season with three more top-tens for fourth overall with 431 points.[31]
Castroneves re-signed with Penske for the2013 season;[100] the team modified his car in the off-season.[101] Two podiums in the season-openingGrand Prix of St. Petersburg and the followingHonda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama gave him the points lead.[102] Castroneves fell to third after finishing 13th in theSão Paulo Indy 300,[103] He qualified eighth for theIndianapolis 500;[31]rev limiter issues left him in sixth.[104] In theFirestone 550 at Texas, Castroneves led the final 132 laps to win, breaking a tie withMarco Andretti for the points lead.[105] Castroneves took two more second places at Milwaukee and the second Toronto race and finished no lower than ninth in the next eight races.[31] An opportunity for him to win the championship before the season was over came to nothing when gearbox problems in theGrand Prix of Houston double leader dropped 25 points behind Dixon.[106][107] To win the championship in the season-endingMAVTV 500 IndyCar World Championships, Castroneves needed to finish nine positions higher than Dixon.[108] A sixth place for Castroneves and a fifth for Dixon gave Castroneves second overall with 550 points.[109]
He remained with Penske for the2014 season.[101] Castrovenes finished third at the season-openingGrand Prix of St. Petersburg and theGrand Prix of Indianapolis three races later.[110] He qualified fourth for theIndianapolis 500,[31] and finished second, 0.0600 seconds behind Hunter-Reay in the second-closest finish in event history after a late race duel for the victory.[111] He took pole position for the firstDetroit Belle Isle Grand Prix race and won the second.[112] After three straight sub-par results,[110] Castroneves finished second in thePocono IndyCar 500 atPocono Raceway to tie his teammate Will Power for the points lead,[113] which took after finishing eighth in theIowa Corn Indy 300.[114] He relinquished the points lead after a throttle problem left him 19th in theHonda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.[115] Entering the final race, theMAVTV 500 IndyCar World Championships, Castroneves was 51 points behind Power.[110] After winning the one point for the pole position, he had to claim victory and for Power to finish seventh or lower to become the champion.[116] Castroneves placed 14th for second overall with 609 points.[31]
For the2015 season, his Penske car was fitted withChevrolet's updated aerodynamic package.[117] Castroneves achieved consecutive second places in theIndy Grand Prix of Louisiana and theGrand Prix of Long Beach and two pole positions.[31] During practice for theIndianapolis 500, he lost control of his car in the first turn, and struck the barrier, flipping his car over 180 degrees and landing upside down.[118] He started fifth and ran consistently within the top five but finished seventh.[119] The rest of the season saw Castroneves achieve consecutive third places in theFirestone 600 and theHonda Indy Toronto and was second in theABC Supply Wisconsin 250 along with two more pole positions for fourth overall with 453 points.[31]
Castroneves stayed with Penske for the2016 season. At theGrand Prix of Long Beach, he led a race-high 47 laps from pole position but a strategy error left him third.[120] Castroneves took another podium finish two races later, a second place at theGrand Prix of Indianapolis.[121] After qualifying ninth for theIndianapolis 500, he led 24 laps, finishing 11th after a lap-160 collision with Hildebrand dislodged Castroneves' left-rear bumper pod.[122][123] Castroneves achieved two more podium finishes, a second in theHonda Indy Toronto,[124] and a third in theIndyCar Grand Prix at the Glen.[31] In theABC Supply 500 at Pocono, the top of his vehicle was mounted byAlexander Rossi's airborne car after Rossi andCharlie Kimball collided in the pit lane. Castroneves was uninjured from the impact.[125] With 504 points, Castroneves was fourth in the drivers' championship.[31]
He remained at Penske for the2017 season. Castrovenes began with his third successive pole position at theGrand Prix of Long Beach; electrical problems left him ninth.[126] He led the first 73 laps of theDesert Diamond West Valley Phoenix Grand Prix for fourth after winning pole.[127] Castroneves began from a career-low 19th in theIndianapolis 500, moving through the field to finish second after a late race duel for the win withTakuma Sato.[128] He earned his 50th pole position in theKohler Grand Prix atRoad America,[129] and went on to lead 214 laps in his first victory in 54 races in theIowa Corn 300.[130] Castroneves finished no lower than eighth in the next five races,[31] and entered the season's final race, theGrand Prix of Sonoma 22 points behind championship leader and teammateJosef Newgarden and 19 behind Dixon. A victory and Newgarden finishing third or lower and Dixon second or worse would give Castroneves the title.[131] He finished in fifth place to be fourth overall with 598 points.[132]
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Post-season, he stepped down from IndyCar full-time to move to Penske'sIMSA SportsCar Championship program.[133] Castroneves was entered into both theIndyCar Grand Prix and theIndianapolis 500 as part of his2018 campaign; he prepared for the races by sharing notes with his teammates and familiarizing himself with the car.[134][135] Castroneves' team employed a strategy allowing him to finish sixth in the IndyCar Grand Prix.[135] At the Indianapolis 500, he started from eighth place, before losing control of his car in turn four and crashing on the 146th lap for a 27th-place finish.[136] In the2019 season, he again entered both theIndyCar Grand Prix and theIndianapolis 500. Castroneves finished the IndyCar Grand Prix two laps behind the leaders in 21st.[137] He started 12th in the Indianapolis 500,[31] finishing the race 18th following a pit lane collision with the rear ofJames Davison's car earning him a drive-through penalty.[138] He began the2020 Indianapolis 500 from 27th and finished the race in 11th.[139]
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Castroneves signed to race forArrow McLaren SP in place of the unfitOliver Askew at the Harvest Grand Prix in his first IndyCar start for a team other than Penske since 1999.[140] He finished 20th in the first race and 21st in the second.[31] Following an approach by team ownerMichael Shank in late 2020,[141] Castroneves signed for the smallMeyer Shank Racing (MSR) team to compete at six races in the2021 season,[141] feeling the growing team would give him the opportunity to win a fourth Indianapolis 500.[142] He had asked MSR to enter him in more races but the request was denied.[142] At theIndianapolis 500, Castroneves achieved his record-tying fourth career victory in the event after a late-race pass onÁlex Palou.[143] He struggled with his form after his victory,[144] and he went on to score one more top ten finish atNashville in his final five races of 2021 to finish 22nd overall with 158 points.[31]
In July 2021 he signed a contract extension with MSR to drive for the whole of the2022 season – his first full-time season for five years.[141][145] Castroneves achieved a season-best result of seventh at theIndianapolis 500 and scored two other top-ten finishes atLong Beach andMid-Ohio in placing 18th overall with 263 points accumulated,[31] which was his least successful full-time IndyCar season in his career and he did not finish on the podium over a whole year for the first time in his career.[146] In August 2022, he signed a one-year contract extension to remain at MSR for the2023 championship.[147] During the season, Castroneves finished in the top ten once at Texas, the season's second round, and scored 217 points for 18th in the championship standings.[31]
Castroneves stopped full-time IndyCar racing at the start of the2024 season, having become a minority partner in MSR's ownership group and a driver coach. He was replaced by IMSA driverTom Blomqvist but was set to continue to compete in just the Indianapolis 500 in MSR's third car.[148][149] Castroneves qualified and finished theIndianapolis 500 in 20th.[31] He replaced Blomqvist in the No. 66 car for theChevrolet Detroit Grand Prix and the followingXPEL Grand Prix at Road America after Blomqvist under performed relative to teammate Rosenqvist.[150] Castroneves finished 25th in Detroit and 19th at Road America.[31]
Castroneves made hisendurance racing debut in the 2006Mil Milhas Brasil, winning after 374 laps in a shared GTP1-classAston Martin DBR9 withNelson Piquet,Nelson Piquet Jr., andChristophe Bouchut.[151] He entered at the2007 24 Hours of Daytona (part of theRolex Sports Car Series), sharingMichael Shank Racing's No. 60RileyDaytona Prototype (DP) car with Hornish,Oswaldo Negri Jr. andMark Patterson and finishing ninth.[152] Two months later, Castroneves drove the No. 7 PenskePorsche RS Spyder Evo car withTimo Bernhard andRomain Dumas in theLe Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) category of the12 Hours of Sebring (part of theAmerican Le Mans Series),[153] finishing third in class and fifth overall.[152] He returned to the Rolex Sports Car Series to share the No. 9 Penske-Taylor Racing Riley DP car withRyan Briscoe andKurt Busch in the2008 24 Hours of Daytona.[154] finishing 13th after starting third.[152] For the2008 Petit Le Mans and the following2008 Monterey Sports Car Championships Castroneves shared Penske's No. 5 Porsche RS Spyder Evo car with Briscoe,[152][155] winning the LMP2 category at Petit Le Mans.[156]
In 2016, Roger Penske asked Castroneves if he wanted a full time sports car career.[133] Although Castroneves wanted to remain in IndyCar,[157] he solicited advice from Indianapolis 500 winnerRick Mears because he had doubts about staying at Penske. Mears told Castroneves to remain at Penske because of Roger Penske's personality. Talks with several teams came close to employment but Castroneves decided to remain with Penske out of loyalty.[158] To prepare for the2018 IMSA SportsCar Championship in anAcura ARX-05 car in theDaytona Prototype International (DPi) category, he drove the final race of the2017 season, thePetit Le Mans.[159] Teamed with Montoya andSimon Pagenaud, he qualified the No. 6Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 car on pole position,[160] finishing the race third after a collision withMatteo Cressoni's Ferrari.[152][161]
He formally joined Penske's 2018 IMSA program in October 2017.[162] Castroneves was joined byRicky Taylor for the entire season, and byGraham Rahal for the24 Hours of Daytona, the12 Hours of Sebring andPetit Le Mans.[152] He referenced his teammatesDane Cameron and Montoya,[163] and communicated constantly with his race engineer and Taylor.[164] Their car started second for the Daytona race, and finished ninth,[152] after Castroneves andAction Express Racing'sFelipe Nasr collided in the 16th hour.[165] After starting third at Sebring, he retired after six hours with a loss of oil pressure.[166] In theSports Car Challenge of Mid-Ohio at Mid-Ohio he and Taylor led 87 laps from pole for his first series victory.[167] The final six races saw him achieve four top tens and finish second in theChevrolet Sports Car Classic at Detroit.[152] Castroneves was seventh in the Prototype drivers' standings with 243 points and was third in the North American Endurance Cup.[168]
For the2019 season, he remained at Penske in the new DPi class. He again partnered Taylor in the No. 7 car, joined by Rossi at the24 Hours of Daytona and12 Hours of Sebring and Rahal in the season-endingPetit Le Mans.[152] Castroneves and his co-drivers finished the rain-shortened Daytona season-opener third from starting second.[169] A fourth place at Sebring and a second in the followingBUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix at Long Beach moved him and Taylor to a season-high second in the DPi standings.[170] The rest of the season saw Castroneves and Taylor achieve two third places in theChevrolet Sports Car Classic and the Petit Le Mans and a second place in theMonterey Grand Prix at Laguna Seca.[152] With 284 points, he finished third in the DPi standings and was joint fifth withOliver Jarvis andTristan Nunez ofMazda Team Joest in the North American Endurance Cup.[168]
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Castroneves remained at Penske's IMSA program in2020. He was again teamed with Taylor in the No. 7 vehicle, with Rossi joining them for the endurance races.[171] Castroneves' team was comprised in the fourth hour of the season-opening24 Hours of Daytona following a collision withHarry Tincknell restricting them to finishing 22 laps down in eighth.[172] He won consecutive races in the rain-affected Road Race Showcase at Road America from pole position,[173] the Grand Prix of Road Atlanta,[174] and the Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio.[175] Castroneves and Taylor won the championship at the season-ending12 Hours of Sebring, his first in auto racing, by one point over Briscoe andRenger van der Zande.[176]
In the2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship, he won the2021 24 Hours of Daytona as an endurance driver, sharing the No. 10Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05 car withFilipe Albuquerque, Rossi and Taylor.[177] Castroneves replacedOlivier Pla in the No. 60 MSR Acura ARX-05 DPi car he shared with Montoya and Cameron at the season-endingPetit Le Mans.[178] He shared MSR's No. 60 Acura ARX-05 entry for the Endurance Cup races of the2022 IMSA season alongside full-season racersTom Blomqvist and Jarvis as he returned to competing in IndyCar full-time.[179][180] Castroneves fended off Taylor in the final laps of the2022 24 Hours of Daytona to win the event for the second year in succession.[181] Although he was set to enter both the12 Hours of Sebring and the IndyCar round at Texas that were held on the same weekend, he later withdrew from the Sebring race due to logistical complications and he was replaced byStoffel Vandoorne.[182] Castroneves went on to win the season-endingPetit Le Mans alongside Blomqvist and Jarvis.[183]
At the2023 24 Hours of Daytona, Castroneves achieved his third consecutive victory in the race, sharing the No. 60 MSRAcura ARX-06LMDh entry with Blomqvist,Colin Braun and Pagenaud as an endurance driver in the GTP category.[184][185] He then finished sixth at the12 Hours of Sebring following a left-rear wheel suspension failure.[186] Castroneves, Blomqvist and Braun won the season-endingPetit Le Mans after overcoming a collision with a slower GT car that necessitated a toe-link replacement.[187] MSR left IMSA following the race primarily due to IMSA deciding that the team manipulated tyre data pressure at Daytona, so Castroneves did not compete at the2024 24 Hours of Daytona.[180][188]
Castroneves was invited to compete in theInternational Race of Champions in2002,2003,2004, and2005. Driving aPontiac Firebird Trans Am, his best in the series was eighth with two podium finishes in 2002.[16] In the2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series, Castroneves joinedJames Rosenberg Racing in its No. 47Ford FG Falcon asTim Slade's international co-driver for theGold Coast 600 double header. He visited the team's factory for a seat fitting as preparation.[189] Castroneves and Slade finished outside the top ten in both races.[190] The following year, he again joined Slade at James Rosenberg at theGold Coast 600 race of the2011 International V8 Supercars Championship.[191] The duo finished the first race 12th and 10th in the second.[16]
In late 2012, Castroneves joined Shell Racing in the season-endingStock Car Brasil race, theStock Car Corrida do Milhão, after a sponsor invited him to enter with Roger Penske's support.[192] He placed 14th in aPeugeot 408.[16] Castroneves was signed as a guest driver for Shell Racing in the seventh round of the2013 Stock Car Brasil at Ribeirão Preto Street Circuit;[193] doctors ordered his withdrawal due to sustaining bruised ribs, neck sprain and a deep shin cut in a practice accident.[194]
In the 2017 off-season, he paired with Gabriel Glusman at the Latin America team in the2017 Race of Champions Nations Cup,[195] being eliminated at the group stages.[196] He returned with the same team for the2018 Race of Champions Nations Cup, this time with Montoya, finishing runner-up to Team Germany's Bernhard andRené Rast.[197] At the2019 Race of Champions, Castroneves joinedFormula E championLucas di Grassi at Team Brazil,[198] being knocked out of the semi-finals of the Nations Cup by Team Germany'sMick Schumacher andSebastian Vettel.[199] He competed in theSuperstar Racing Experience in 2021,[200] finishing fifth in the points standings with six top-ten finishes.[16][201]
For the2022 Race of Champions, Castroneves competed in the individual competition and for Team Latin America in the Nations Cup alongside rally driverBenito Guerra Jr.[202] He was eliminated in the first round of both events.[203] Castroneves made hisNASCAR Cup Series debut at the2025 Daytona 500, joiningTrackhouse Racing's Project91 programme and driving the team's No. 91Chevrolet ZL1,[204] finishing 39th after being involved in a seven-car accident.[205] He raced forPinnacle Racing Group in its No. 82Chevrolet SS in the season-openingDaytona ARCA 200 race (part of theARCA Menards Series) as preparation for the Daytona 500.[206] Castroneves finished the race in fifth place.[207]
Castroneves was encouraged byApolo Ohno, an Olympicspeed skater, to participate on dance programDancing with the Stars in 2007.[208] He was accepted onto itsfifth season by the casting director and producers, who watched a video of him and his teammate's Hornish driving styles in different locations.[j] He was paired with professional dancerJulianne Hough, with whom he built a rapport due to their similar personalities. He prepared by watching episodes of thefourth season and instruction videos.[k][209] The couple lasted until the finals, which they won with a higher percentage of the public vote than singerMel B.[210] When he wonDancing with the Stars Castroneves appeared onThe Oprah Winfrey Show in February 2008.[211] From 2007 to 2010, he was a correspondent onDancing with the Stars forEntertainment Tonight.[69][212][213]
In 2010, he collaborated with writer Marissa Matteo on his autobiography,Victory Road: The Ride of My Life.[24] Castroneves was inspired to write the book to convey his negative emotions in his tax evasion trial and how he dealt with them.[13] He was selected to be a judge onMiss Universe 2011, a beauty pageant held that September in São Paulo.[214] In 2012 Castroneves appeared onDancing with the Stars'15th season and was partnered withChelsie Hightower. The couple were eliminated in the competition's third week.[215] Castroneves appeared on the 17 December 2012 edition ofThe Jeff Probst Show,[216] and featured on an episode ofCelebrity Wife Swap's third season in 2014.[217] In 2016, he was chosen to take part onAmerican Ninja Warrior,[218] and teamed up with IndyCar driversConor Daly,James Hinchcliffe,Tony Kanaan andWill Power onCelebrity Family Feud that same year.[219]
Castroneves is one of IndyCar's most popular drivers;[53] Dave Caldwell ofThe New York Times noted Castroneves' personality transcends IndyCar through his achievements and media attention outside it.[107] J.J. O'Malley ofAuto Racing Digest wrote that Castroneves received some coverage for "his charisma and personality", adding, "The driver seems to permanently wear a smile, and he's not afraid to show his emotions."[26] After 2007, he became more recognized for winningDancing with the Stars than his sporting achievements.[208][212] A merchandise sales tallying company attributed Castroneves' popularity outside racing for increasing IndyCar attendances by 68 percent in 2008.[l][69] Of his IndyCar Series legacy,NBC Sports' Tony DiZinno said, "With four championship runners-up in 2002, 2008, 2013 and 2014, Castroneves is your equivalentDan Marino,Buffalo Bills orMark Martin of IndyCar. He'll forever be acknowledged as one of the best, but perhaps known more as the driver who never quite won a title".[221]
After winning a race, Castroneves celebrated by stopping his car, and climbing the catchfence to send a message of delight in achieving success. He began the tradition with his first CART victory in Detroit in 2000 and repeated it each time he won a race.[26][221] After this celebration, John Kernan, host of RPM 2Night, first gave Castroneves the nickname "Spider-Man",[222] and has been mimicked by other drivers in the following years.[222]
His photogenic looks have been picked up the press,[5][26] IncludingPeople,[223]ESPN The Magazine, andCosmopolitan.[26] Castroneves has done business with oil companiesPennzoil,Shell,[224] and electronics companySMS Audio.[225]
In December 2004, he had an audience withPope John Paul II and spoke to a congress on howCatholicism impacted his life and racing career.[226]
Castroneves was part of the National Motorsports Coalition that spoke about spectators returning to race tracks and his season to the Congressional Motorsports Caucus in June 2021.[227] He won the 2001Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and the 2004Scott Brayton Award for "displaying the character that best exemplifies the racing spirit of the late Scott Brayton."[228]
Castroneves was inducted into the Indy Lights Hall of Fame in 2014 as a 1997 graduate,[229] theLong Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame and the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2018,[230][231] the Team Penske Hall of Fame in December 2020,[232] and theMotorsports Hall of Fame of America as part of the class of 2022.[233]
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (small number denotes finishing position)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Tasman Motorsports | MIA DNS | LBH 4 | NAZ 17 | MIS 5 | MIL 11 | DET 17 | POR 8 | CLE 3 | TOR 23 | TRO 1 | VAN 10 | LS 2 | 7th | 84 | |
| 1997 | MIA 14 | LBH 1 | NAZ 4 | SAV 1 | STL 3 | MIL 12 | DET 2 | POR 2 | TOR 1 | TRO 20 | VAN 19 | LS 3 | FON 5 | 2nd | 152 | |
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (small number denotes finishing position)
| Year | Team | No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Bettenhausen Racing | 16 | MIA 24 | MOT 11 | LBH 9 | NAZ 23 | RIO 23 | GAT 7 | MIL 2 | DET 12 | POR 13 | CLE 27 | TOR 10 | MCH 12 | MDO 17 | ROA 26 | VAN 24 | LAG 23 | HOU 24 | SRF 21 | FON 10 | 17th | 36 | [234] | |
| 1999 | Hogan Racing | 9 | MIA 17 | MOT 9 | LBH 19 | NAZ 21 | RIO 25 | GAT 2 | MIL 26 | POR 26 | CLE 26 | ROA 16 | TOR 27 | MCH 25 | DET 7 | MDO 7 | CHI 5 | VAN 8 | LAG 26 | HOU 26 | SRF 21 | FON 20 | 15th | 48 | [235] |
| 2000 | Team Penske | 3 | MIA 25 | LBH 2 | RIO 24 | MOT 13 | NAZ 16 | MIL 16 | DET 1 | POR 7 | CLE 21 | TOR 16 | MCH 5 | CHI 21 | MDO 1 | ROA 9 | VAN 20 | LAG 1 | GAT 9 | HOU 5 | SRF 6 | FON 9 | 7th | 129 | [236] |
| 2001 | MTY 8 | LBH 1 | NAZ 11 | MOT 2 | MIL 26 | DET 1 | POR 17 | CLE 12 | TOR 19 | MCH 8 | CHI 7 | MDO 1 | ROA 7 | VAN 18 | LAU 12 | ROC 4 | HOU 5 | LAG 6 | SRF 20 | FON 22 | 4th | 141 | [237] | ||
(key) (Races inbold indicate pole position) (small number denotes finishing position)
| Year | Team | Chassis | No. | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Rank | Points | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | MarlboroTeam Penske | Dallara | 68 | Oldsmobile | PHX 18 | HMS | ATL | INDY 1 | TXS | PPR | RIR | KAN | NSH | KTY | GTW | CHI | TXS | 24th | 64 | [238] | ||||||
| 2002 | 3 | Chevrolet | HMS 3 | PHX 1 | FON 5 | NAZ 5 | INDY 1 | TXS 4 | PPR 2 | RIR 17 | KAN 3 | NSH 9 | MIS 6 | KTY 5 | GTW 2 | CHI 4 | TXS 2 | 2nd | 511 | [239] | ||||||
| 2003 | Toyota | HMS 3 | PHX 2 | MOT 22 | INDY 2 | TXS 7 | PPR 12 | RIR 2 | KAN 2 | NSH 3 | MIS 17 | GTW 1 | KTY 5 | NAZ 1 | CHI 20 | FON 6 | TXS 13 | 3rd | 484 | [240] | ||||||
| 2004 | HMS 2 | PHX 6 | MOT 3 | INDY 9 | TXS 12 | RIR 3 | KAN 7 | NSH 3 | MIL 12 | MIS 10 | KTY 12 | PPR 6 | NAZ 5 | CHI 10 | FON 7 | TXS 1 | 4th | 446 | [241] | |||||||
| 2005 | HMS 5 | PHX 2 | STP 20 | MOT 11 | INDY 9 | TXS 5 | RIR 1 | KAN 8 | NSH 5 | MIL 16 | MIS 21 | KTY 5 | PPR 4 | SNM 21 | CHI 2 | WGL 12 | FON 9 | 6th | 440 | [242] | ||||||
| 2006 | Honda | HMS 2 | STP 1 | MOT 1 | INDY 25 | WGL 7 | TXS 1 | RIR 10 | KAN 6 | NSH 5 | MIL 14 | MIS 1 | KTY 3 | SNM 5 | CHI 4 | 3rd | 473 | [243] | ||||||||
| 2007 | Team Penske | HMS 9 | STP 1 | MOT 7 | KAN 3 | INDY 3 | MIL 16 | TXS 16 | IOW 8 | RIR 11 | WGL 18 | NSH 6 | MDO 3 | MIS 17 | KTY 9 | SNM 2 | DET 14 | CHI 4 | 6th | 446 | [244] | |||||
| 2008 | HMS 4 | STP 2 | MOT1 2 | LBH1 | KAN 4 | INDY 4 | MIL 5 | TXS 2 | IOW 14 | RIR 2 | WGL 16 | NSH 3 | MDO 2 | EDM 2 | KTY 2 | SNM 1 | DET 2 | CHI 1 | 2nd | 629 | [245] | |||||
| 2009 | Penske Racing | STP | LBH 7 | KAN 2 | INDY 1 | MIL 11 | TXS 1 | IOW 7 | RIR 17 | WGL 4 | TOR 18 | EDM 2 | KTY 4 | MDO 12 | SNM 18 | CHI 20 | MOT 10 | HMS 5 | 4th | 433 | [246] | |||||
| 2010 | Team Penske | SAO 9 | STP 4 | ALA 1 | LBH 7 | KAN 4 | INDY 9 | TXS 20 | IOW 2 | WGL 9 | TOR 24 | EDM 10 | MDO 3 | SNM 5 | CHI 6 | KTY 1 | MOT 1 | HMS 5 | 4th | 531 | [247] | |||||
| 2011 | STP 20 | ALA 7 | LBH 12 | SAO 21 | INDY 17 | TXS 10 | TXS 4 | MIL 9 | IOW 7 | TOR 17 | EDM 2 | MDO 19 | NHM 17 | SNM 2 | BAL 17 | MOT 22 | KTY 29 | LVS2 C | 11th | 312 | [248] | |||||
| 2012 | Dallara DW12 | Chevrolet | STP 1 | ALA 3 | LBH 13 | SAO 4 | INDY 10 | DET 17 | TXS 7 | MIL 6 | IOW 6 | TOR 6 | EDM 1 | MDO 16 | SNM 6 | BAL 10 | FON 5 | 4th | 431 | [249] | ||||||
| 2013 | STP 2 | ALA 3 | LBH 10 | SAO 13 | INDY 6 | DET 5 | DET 8 | TXS 1 | MIL 2 | IOW 8 | POC 8 | TOR 6 | TOR 2 | MDO 6 | SNM 7 | BAL 9 | HOU 18 | HOU 23 | FON 6 | 2nd | 550 | [250] | ||||
| 2014 | STP 3 | LBH 11 | ALA 19 | IMS 3 | INDY 2 | DET 5 | DET 1 | TXS 8 | HOU 9 | HOU 21 | POC 2 | IOW 8 | TOR 2 | TOR 12 | MDO 19 | MIL 11 | SNM 18 | FON 14 | 2nd | 609 | [251] | |||||
| 2015 | STP 4 | NLA 2 | LBH 2 | ALA 15 | IMS 6 | INDY 7 | DET 6 | DET 19 | TXS 3 | TOR 3 | FON 23 | MIL 2 | IOW 11 | MDO 15 | POC 16 | SNM 15 | 5th | 453 | [252] | |||||||
| 2016 | STP 4 | PHX 11 | LBH 3 | ALA 7 | IMS 2 | INDY 11 | DET 5 | DET 14 | ROA 5 | IOW 13 | TOR 2 | MDO 15 | POC 19 | TXS 5 | WGL 3 | SNM 7 | 3rd | 504 | [253] | |||||||
| 2017 | STP 6 | LBH 9 | ALA 4 | PHX 4 | IMS 5 | INDY 2 | DET 7 | DET 9 | TXS 20 | ROA 3 | IOW 1 | TOR 8 | MDO 7 | POC 7 | GTW 4 | WGL 4 | SNM 5 | 4th | 598 | [254] | ||||||
| 2018 | STP | PHX | LBH | ALA | IMS 6 | INDY 27 | DET | DET | TXS | ROA | IOW | TOR | MDO | POC | GTW | POR | SNM | 32nd | 40 | [255] | ||||||
| 2019 | STP | COA | ALA | LBH | IMS 21 | INDY 18 | DET | DET | TXS | ROA | TOR | IOW | MDO | POC | GTW | POR | LAG | 29th | 33 | [256] | ||||||
| 2020 | TXS | IMS | ROA | ROA | IOW | IOW | INDY 11 | GTW | GTW | MDO | MDO | 27th | 57 | [257] | ||||||||||||
| Arrow McLaren SP | 7 | IMS 20 | IMS 21 | STP | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Meyer Shank Racing | 06 | Honda | ALA | STP | TXS | TXS | IMS | INDY 1 | DET | DET | ROA | MDO | NSH 9 | IMS 21 | GTW | POR 23 | LAG 24 | LBH 20 | 22nd | 158 | [258] | ||||
| 2022 | STP 14 | TXS 23 | LBH 9 | ALA 21 | IMS 14 | INDY 7 | DET 25 | ROA 22 | MDO 8 | TOR 17 | IOW 16 | IOW 21 | IMS 19 | NSH 13 | GTW 15 | POR 17 | LAG 19 | 18th | 263 | [259] | ||||||
| 2023 | STP 23 | TXS 10 | LBH 21 | ALA 21 | IMS 22 | INDY 15 | DET 19 | ROA 15 | MDO 21 | TOR 21 | IOW 14 | IOW 16 | NSH 11 | IMS 15 | GTW 23 | POR 14 | LAG 13 | 18th | 217 | [260] | ||||||
| 2024 | Meyer Shank Racing withCurb-Agajanian | STP | THE | LBH | ALA | IMS | INDY 20 | 35th | 26 | [261] | ||||||||||||||||
| Meyer Shank Racing | 66 | DET 25 | ROA 19 | LAG | MDO | IOW | IOW | TOR | GTW | POR | MIL | MIL | NSH | |||||||||||||
| 2025 | 06 | STP | THE | LBH | ALA | IMS | INDY | DET | GTW | ROA | MDO | IOW | IOW | TOR | LAG | POR | MIL | NSH | - | 0 | ||||||
* Season still in progress.
| Years | Teams | Races | Poles | Wins | Top 5s | Top 10s | Indianapolis 500 wins | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 3 | 273 | 48 | 25 | 125 | 236 | 4 (2001,2002,2009,2021) | 0 |
Source:[31] | ||||||||
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Dallara | Oldsmobile | 11 | 1 | Team Penske |
| 2002 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 13 | 1 | Team Penske |
| 2003 | Dallara | Toyota | 1 | 2 | Team Penske |
| 2004 | Dallara | Toyota | 8 | 9 | Team Penske |
| 2005 | Dallara | Toyota | 5 | 9 | Team Penske |
| 2006 | Dallara | Honda | 2 | 25 | Team Penske |
| 2007 | Dallara | Honda | 1 | 3 | Team Penske |
| 2008 | Dallara | Honda | 4 | 4 | Team Penske |
| 2009 | Dallara | Honda | 1 | 1 | Team Penske |
| 2010 | Dallara | Honda | 1 | 9 | Team Penske |
| 2011 | Dallara | Honda | 16 | 17 | Team Penske |
| 2012 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 6 | 10 | Team Penske |
| 2013 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 8 | 6 | Team Penske |
| 2014 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 4 | 2 | Team Penske |
| 2015 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 5 | 7 | Team Penske |
| 2016 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 9 | 11 | Team Penske |
| 2017 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 19 | 2 | Team Penske |
| 2018 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 8 | 27 | Team Penske |
| 2019 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 12 | 18 | Team Penske |
| 2020 | Dallara | Chevrolet | 28 | 11 | Team Penske |
| 2021 | Dallara | Honda | 8 | 1 | Meyer Shank Racing |
| 2022 | Dallara | Honda | 27 | 7 | Meyer Shank Racing |
| 2023 | Dallara | Honda | 20 | 15 | Meyer Shank Racing |
| 2024 | Dallara | Honda | 20 | 20 | Meyer Shank Racing |
| 2025 | Dallara | Honda | Meyer Shank Racing | ||
Source:[31] | |||||
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
| NASCAR Cup Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | NCS | Pts | Ref | ||
| 2025 | Trackhouse Racing | 91 | Chevy | DAY 39 | ATL | COA | PHO | LVS | HOM | MAR | DAR | BRI | TAL | TEX | KAN | CLT | NSH | MCH | MXC | POC | ATL | CSC | SON | DOV | IND | IOW | GLN | RCH | DAY | DAR | GTW | BRI | NHA | KAN | ROV | LVS | TAL | MAR | PHO | -* | -* | [264] | ||
| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Trackhouse Racing | Chevrolet | 41 | 39 |
| ARCA Menards Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | AMSC | Pts | Ref |
| 2025 | Pinnacle Racing Group | 82 | Chevy | DAY 5 | PHO | TAL | KAN | CLT | MCH | BLN | ELK | LRP | DOV | IRP | IOW | GLN | ISF | MAD | DSF | BRI | SLM | KAN | TOL | -* | -* | [265] |
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Rank | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | DHL Team Penske Porsche | LMP2 | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | Porsche MR6 3.4L V8 | SEB 3 | STP | LBH | TXS | UTA | LIM | MDO | ROA | MOS | DET | PET | MON | 23rd | 19 | |
| 2008 | DHL Team Penske Porsche | LMP2 | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | Porsche MR6 3.4L V8 | SEB | STP | LBH | UTA | LIM | MDO | ROA | MOS | DET | PET 1 | MON 4 | 19th | 45 | ||
Source:[152] | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | Pos | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | James Rosenberg Racing | YMC R1 | YMC R2 | BHR R3 | BHR R4 | ADE R5 | ADE R6 | HAM R7 | HAM R8 | QLD R9 | QLD R10 | WIN R11 | WIN R12 | HDV R13 | HDV R14 | TOW R15 | TOW R16 | PHI R17 | BAT R18 | SUR R19 18 | SUR R20 19 | SYM R21 | SYM R22 | SAN R23 | SAN R24 | SYD R25 | SYD R26 | NC | 0 + | ||
| 2011 | YMC R1 | YMC R2 | ADE R3 | ADE R4 | HAM R5 | HAM R6 | PER R7 | PER R8 | PER R9 | WIN R10 | WIN R11 | HDV R12 | HDV R13 | TOW R14 | TOW R15 | QLD R16 | QLD R17 | QLD R18 | PHI R19 | BAT R20 | SUR R21 12 | SUR R22 10 | SYM R23 | SYM R24 | SAN R25 | SAN R26 | SYD R27 | SYD R28 | 63rd | 147 | |
Source:[16] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
+ Not Eligible for points
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Shell Racing | Peugeot 408 | Peugeot 5.7 LV8 | INT | CTB | VEL | RBP | LON | RIO | SAL | CAS | TAR | CTB | BSB | INT 14 | NC† | 0† |
| 2013 | Shell Racing | Peugeot 408 | Peugeot 5.7 LV8 | INT | CUR | TAR | SAL | BRA | CAS | RBP DNS | BRA | VEL | CUR | GOI | INT | NC† | 0† |
Source:[16] | |||||||||||||||||
† Ineligible for championship points.
| Year | Entrant | No. | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Acura Team Penske | 6 | P | Oreca 07 | Gibson GK428 4.2 LV8 | DAY | SEB | LBH | COA | DET | WGL | MOS | ELK | LGA | PET 3 | 30th | 30 |
| 2018 | Acura Team Penske | 7 | P | Acura ARX-05 | Acura AR35TT 3.5 L Turbo V6 | DAY 9 | SEB 15 | LBH 6 | MDO 1 | DET 2 | WGL 12 | MOS 5 | ELK 10 | LGA 10 | PET 5 | 7th | 243 |
| 2019 | Acura Team Penske | 7 | DPi | Acura ARX-05 | Acura AR35TT 3.5 L Turbo V6 | DAY 3 | SEB 4 | LBH 2 | MDO 5 | DET 3 | WGL 5 | MOS 5 | ELK 7 | LGA 2 | PET 3 | 3rd | 284 |
| 2020 | Acura Team Penske | 7 | DPi | Acura ARX-05 | Acura AR35TT 3.5 L Turbo V6 | DAY 8 | DAY 8 | SEB 7 | ELK 1 | ATL 1 | MDO 1 | PET 2 | LGA 1 | SEB 8 | 1st | 265 | |
| 2021 | Konica Minolta Acura | 10 | DPi | Acura ARX-05 | Acura AR35TT 3.5 L Turbo V6 | DAY 1 | SEB | MDO | DET | WGL | WGL | ELK | LGA | LBH | 16th | 654 | |
| Meyer Shank Racing withCurb-Agajanian | 60 | PET 6 | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Meyer Shank Racing withCurb-Agajanian | 60 | DPi | Acura ARX-05 | Acura AR35TT 3.5 LTurboV6 | DAY 1 | SEB | LBH | LGA | MDO | DET | WGL | MOS | ELK | PET 1 | 13th | 763 |
| 2023 | Meyer Shank Racing withCurb-Agajanian | 60 | GTP | Acura ARX-06 | Acura AR24e 2.4 LV6 | DAY 1 | SEB 6 | LBH | LGA | WGL | MOS | ELK | IMS | PET 1 | 14th | 839 | |
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 |  Acura Team Penske | Graham RahalRicky Taylor | Acura ARX-05 | P | 793 | 9th | 9th |
| 2019 | Acura Team Penske | Alexander RossiRicky Taylor | Acura ARX-05 | DPi | 593 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 2020 | Acura Team Penske | Alexander RossiRicky Taylor | Acura ARX-05 | DPi | 811 | 8th | 8th |
| 2021 | Konica Minolta Acura ARX-05 |  Filipe AlbuquerqueAlexander RossiRicky Taylor | Acura ARX-05 | DPi | 807 | 1st | 1st |
| 2022 | Meyer Shank Racing withCurb-Agajanian |  Oliver JarvisTom Blomqvist Simon Pagenaud | Acura ARX-05 | DPi | 761 | 1st | 1st |
| 2023 | Meyer Shank Racing withCurb-Agajanian | Colin BraunTom BlomqvistSimon Pagenaud | Acura ARX-06 | GTP | 783 | 1st | 1st |
Source:[152] | |||||||
(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)
| International Race of Champions results | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Pos. | Points | Ref |
| 2002 | Pontiac | DAY 11 | CAL 7 | CHI 3 | IND 2 | 4th | 43 | [266] |
| 2003 | DAY 11 | TAL 12 | CHI 11 | IND 8* | 12th | 23 | [267] | |
| 2004 | DAY 6 | TEX 7 | RCH 8 | ATL 11 | 9th | 28 | [268] | |
| 2005 | DAY 8 | TEX 10 | RCH 11 | ATL 4 | 9th | 32 | [269] | |
(key) * – Most laps led.1 – Heat 1 winner.2 – Heat 2 winner.
| Superstar Racing Experience results | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | SRXC | Pts |
| 2021 | 3 | STA 4 | KNX 5 | ELD 3 | IRP 92 | SLG 10 | NSV 92 | 5th | 140 |
| 2022 | 06 | FIF 12 | SBO 52 | STA | NSV 5 | I55 | SHA | 12th | 45 |
| 2023 | STA | STA II | MMI 6 | BER 8 | ELD | LOS 9 | 16th | 01 | |
* Season still in progress
.
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Indianapolis 500 Winner 2001–2002 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Indianapolis 500 Winner 2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | IMSA SportsCar Championship Champion 2020 With:Ricky Taylor | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Indianapolis 500 Winner 2021 | Succeeded by |
| Awards and achievements | ||
| Preceded by | Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year 2001 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Scott Brayton Award 2004 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Dancing with the Stars (US) winners Season 5 With:Julianne Hough | Succeeded by |
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