Forget the snarky TV show of the same name—Helio Castroneves is having the Best Week Ever. After being acquitted of the final charge on a drawn-out tax evasion case on Friday, the Brazilian racer took the checkered flag at the Indy 500 on Sunday, joining an elite group of nine drivers who have won the race three times. Even though the dude has barely slept in the two days since, he agreed to have breakfast with us early this morning at his Manhattan hotel. Over a bowl of Special K, Castroneves recounted the last few laps of the race.
In his own words:
SEVENTEEN LAPS LEFT
Coming out of the last yellow flag (lap 183 of 200), I know I have a pretty good chance to win—almost a two second lead. In the earpiece, my team is telling me to save fuel, but I go for it. I'm not gonna save fuel. I wanna win the race.
FOUR LAPS LEFT
From inside the car, I can't see what's going on in the crowd, because I'm moving too fast. But as I come out of turn four into the main straightaway, I glance into the big screen monitor in the stands. I look, which is an awful idea. From the car I see my mom and dad holding hands on TV.
ONE LAP LEFT
It gets confusing so I just count the remaining laps to myself: 4, 3, 2, 1. As the white flag comes out (meaning the final lap) I just hope the engine holds on. I hope the tires hold on. I want to look up and see the fans, but I say to myself "Don't do anything stupid."
VICTORY LAP
As I cross under the checkered flag, everybody on the team is screaming into the monitor. The sound breaks up in the earpiece. I can't hear anything. But it doesn't matter. It's a personal moment. I raise my arm outside the car. I can't believe it. I can't describe that feeling inside the helmet.
THE CELEBRATION
I slow to a stop and the yellow shirt guys (Indy race officials) run up to the car and literally try to force me to go to victory circle. But I gotta climb the fence. I will climb the fence. I think to myself, well, there's no way they can disqualify me now! So I do it. And later on the podium, on camera, I don't have words. I say, "I need a minute." But I guess on TV, a minute is a long time.
