Helio Castroneves reveals key to winning Indy 500: 'It's so close'

An IndyCar in super speedway aerodynamic configuration generates up to 88% of its 5000lbs downforce from the floor. When a car runs in the turbulent air of a competitor it becomes ‘light’ as it loses aerodynamic grip – the name of the game is to try and regain this mainly through bolting on flaps, strakes and bargeboards to the protruding front section of the floor, wings and rear diffuser, while not adding too much as to make your car comparatively slow when running alone.

However, getting to the set-up sweet spot isn’t easy – Castroneves emphasises how is easy it is to be led up a blind gasoline alley.

“When you come to Indianapolis and practice for a week, it’s easy for you to start really well and then sometimes drive into the wrong direction without even noticing due to the weather, the track conditions changing etc.

“It’s a long week, but that’s why the details are so important because the cars are… I don’t want to say old [the Dallara DW12 made its debut in 2012]! But pretty much everyone knows all the tricks – so everybody is very, very close.”

One of the ‘Month of May’s’ peak moments of excitement is the qualifying knockout round, when cars run at their most trim while hitting over 240mph.

That said, putting aside the danger of being caught in a mid-pack pile-up, Castroneves doesn’t particularly value a high-starting position – achieved through a car with hot one-lap pace – above all else.

“It’s important but not a deal-maker,” he says. “Because it’s such a long race, you want to start the race with a good perspective on what to do, the strategy and things like that. However if your car is good, it doesn’t matter where you start.

“You’ve just gotta be patient, and that’s why so many people do so many practice laps in traffic, because these days that’s most important.”

A significant aspect of the Brazilian’s approach is also that he takes a wider line than most into the corners.

The now largely ubiquitous tighter entry was popularised by early 2010s racer Carlos Munoz, but Castroneves favours a more old-school approach which helps him maintain corner speed at a trade-off of making himself easier to follow. However with the cars now running largely as a pack throughout the race, it’s not a significant loss.

When Castroneves began at Indy, fellow four-time winner and Penske alumni Rick Mears gave him advice on “the rhythm of the race, what to do at different times – in 2001 when I won the first time it was like, it’s actually happening!”

Now the Brazilian has been able to pass on what he knows to his current Meyer Shank team-mates Felix Rosenqvist and Tom Blomqvist – like how to space out their race moves. Never was this more apparent than in 2021 when, in a one-off appearance, he was duelling with Alex Palou in the dying moments.

Spying traffic further down the road, Castroneves surmised he should pass the Spaniard with two laps to go, realising once they reached the backmarkers he could use their slipstream as defence to hold off Palou until the chequered flag – it proved a winning decision.

Now though, the veteran racer is just “glad I’m back with the helmet on, because that’s what I know best.”

Clearly a fifth win, making him the most successful Indy 500 driver ever, would mean the world to him. What would he do if it actually happens?

“I think I’ll run for Mayor of Indianapolis!”