News

HELIO CASTRONEVES, driver of the No. 3 Team Penske Dallara/Honda

REXALL EDMONTON INDY
EDMONTON CITY CENTRE AIRPORT
JULY 24th – 26th, 2008

Fast Facts:

• This past weekend in Mid-Ohio, Castroneves earned his second consecutive pole of the 2008 season, as well as his third at Mid-Ohio. He led for five laps, marking the eighth race (out of 12) that he has led laps in, before earning a second-place finish (his fifth runner-up finish of the season). 
• Castroneves is currently in second place in the Championship point standings with 397 points, 58 points behind Series leader Scott Dixon.
• Castroneves’ Mid-Ohio result, coupled with teammate Ryan Briscoe’s victory marked Team Penske’s eighth one-two finish in IndyCar Series competition. The last one came in 2005 in Phoenix when Sam Hornish Jr. won and Castroneves finished second.  This was also the Team’s 35th one-two finish in its open-wheel history. 
• In Mid-Ohio, Castroneves’ pole and teammate Briscoe's second-place start was the 49th front row sweep for the Team, and their 13th since joining the Indy Racing League.  The last time they swept the front row was in Kentucky in 2006 when Castroneves took the pole and Sam Hornish Jr. started second.  Hornish Jr. went on to win and Castroneves finished third.
• In the twelve IndyCar Series events completed thus far, Castroneves has earned two poles, six podium and ten top-five finishes; completed 99.9% of laps run in competition; started in the top-five nine times; and led 15% of all laps run.  His pole two weeks in Nashville extended his IndyCar Series record for most consecutive seasons with a pole (7).
• Castroneves has finished in the top-five in 60 of the 107 (56%) races he’s run since joining the IndyCar Series full-time in 2002 including Miami, St. Petersburg, Japan, Kansas, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Texas, Richmond, Nashville and Mid-Ohio in 2008; he’s finished in the top-ten in 82 out of 107 races (77%).

Penske Racing on Permanent Road/Temporary Street Courses:

• Penske Racing has earned 52 of its 136 race wins on permanent/temporary street courses in their 41-year history of open-wheel racing.  In addition, the Team has earned three victories when competing in Canada; Al Unser Jr. won in Vancouver in 1995 and 1994, and Paul Tracy won in Toronto in 1993.
• In the three IndyCar Series races on permanent road/temporary street circuits in 2008, the Team has earned one victory (Mid-Ohio), two poles (Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio), and three top-five finishes.  In addition, Team Penske has led the most laps in two of the three events and led a total of 96 laps out of 228 (42%).

Did You Know?

• Castroneves has earned eight of his 18 career wins on permanent road/temporary street courses, with the last win coming last season at St. Petersburg.
• Historically, Castroneves has found success in his inaugural runs at various tracks. Perhaps the most well-known is Castroneves’ back-to-back triumphs in his first two attempts at the Indianapolis 500 in 2001 and 2002. Additionally, Castroneves has earned three top-three finishes in his first appearances at tracks including his first career podium finish in Milwaukee (he finished second in 1998); other top-three finishes were at Kansas and Pikes Peak. He’s also earned seven front row starts in inaugural runs including the pole in Watkins Glen in 2005.

Castroneves on the Rexall Edmonton Indy:

“I’m excited to head to Edmonton this season.  I’ve always enjoyed the Canadian races, as they’re so much fun, so it’s great we’re headed back.  The crowds are fantastic, and they really love their racing.  I’ve heard great things about the circuit in Edmonton, and I have to say, I’m really looking forward to getting out on the track.” 

The Rexall Edmonton Indy will run on Saturday, July 26 at Edmonton City Centre Airport.  The race will be telecast live at 5 p.m. (EDT) by ESPN and will be broadcast on the IMS Radio Network.