Backstretch Motorsports

INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, May 24, 2009) - An emotional Helio Castroneves choked back tears in Victory Lane after becoming the first foreign-born three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500.

The affable Brazilian performed his signature fence climb along the front straightaway after taking the checkered flag in his third race since returning to the IndyCar Series following an acquittal in federal court on charges of tax evasion. [read more...]

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 22, 2009) - Helio Castroneves paced the final practice before the Indianapolis 500 and Wade Cunningham became the first two-time winner of the Firestone Freedom 100 Firestone Indy Lights event Friday on the final day of on-track activity before Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

The 33 starters in the field for the “500″ combined for 1,224 incident-free laps on the 2.5-mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Castroneves, a two-time winner who will start from the pole, recorded the best lap at 40.1929 seconds, 223.920 mph. [read more...]

Demonstrating once again that the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is a critical rung on the ladder that drivers must climb on their way from karting to the pinnacle of open-wheel racing – the Indy 500 – this year’s starting field includes a trio of top contenders, including Graham Rahal (4th), Marco Andretti (8th) and Raphael Matos (12th), the fastest rookie in the Indy 500.

Remarkably, all three were competitors in the Star Mazda Championship during the 2005 season. And they’re part of the closest qualifying field in Indy 500 history; Helio Castroneves won the pole with a 4-lap average speed of 224.864 mph and Ryan Hunter-Reay’s speed of 220.597 mph earned him the 33rd-spot in the field. From the fastest to the slowest, the field is separated by just 4.267 mph and 3.0967 seconds. [read more...]

1. Matos has first taste of milk at Fastest Rookie luncheon
2. Shaq joins Luczo Dragon as charity partner
3. Sarah Fisher Racing adds Angie’s List as sponsor

1. Matos has first taste of milk at Fastest Rookie luncheon: Twenty years ago, Raphael Matos sat on the floor of his home, watching on TV as the red and white No. 20 car of fellow Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi passed under the checkered flag to win the 1989 Indianapolis 500.

“Some day that will be me,” the 7-year-old unabashedly told his father.
[read more...]

INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, May 17, 2009) - John Andretti and Ryan Hunter-Reay drove their way into the 2009 Indianapolis 500 with last-gasp attempts on Bump Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Taking advantage of improved conditions over Third-Day Qualifying on May 16, several drivers withdrew their times to avoid the bubble. Tomas Scheckter, Mike Conway, E.J. Viso, Nelson Philippe and Milka Duno all pulled this gamble off successfully and managed to move to safer times, while Bruno Junqueira had little trouble making the cut on his first run of the month.
[read more...]

Three drivers were involved in incidents during yesterday’s practice and qualifiying session at the Indianapolis Motor SPeedway. Mike Conway, Alex Tagliani and John Andretti all encountered trouble in Turn 1. Tagliani and Andretti were uninjured while Conway was admitted to Methodist Hospital in good condition with bruised lungs.

Conway has been released from Methodist Hospital. He had been admitted in good condition following the crash. [read more...]

INDIANAPOLIS (May 9, 2009) — Helio Castroneves will start his ninth Indianapolis 500 from a familiar spot.

The Brazilian, who celebrates his 34th birthday on May 10, scored his third Indianapolis 500 pole position and Roger Penske’s record 15th pole position with a four-lap average speed of 224.864 mph (2 minutes, 40.0967 seconds cumulative time) on the 2.5-mile oval. It was the Brazilian’s 27th career IndyCar Series pole and his first of the season.

Teammate Ryan Briscoe made a late attempt to unseat Castroneves in the six-hour session, withdrawing his second-best qualifying time, but came up short (224.083). He’ll be in the middle of Row 1, with 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti (224.010) on the outside in the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car. [read more...]

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - If practice is any indication, Penske Racing expects to be right in the middle of the battle Saturday for the pole position for the 93rd Indianapolis 500.

Roger Penske could be in line for his record 15th pole at the Indianapolis 500. On the final practice day before Pole Day, Team Penske’s Ryan Briscoe and Helio Castroneves recorded the fastest laps on the 2.5-mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. [read more...]

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 5, 2009) - Four rookies passed the Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program as preparations began at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 2009 Indianapolis 500. The track was open for six rookies to participate in ROP. Three veterans were allowed to complete “refresher” laps.

Mike Conway, Robert Doornbos, Raphael Matos and Alex Tagliani completed all four phases of ROP, demonstrating consistent driving through four speed ranges beginning at 200 mph and increasing in 5 mph increments. [read more...]

INDIANAPOLIS - Though four rookies competed in the first three IndyCar Series events of the season, those races were akin to dipping their feet into the water. Now, they’re about to take the plunge.

On May 5, Stanton Barrett, Mike Conway, Robert Doornbos and Raphael Matos will begin preparations for the 2009 Indianapolis 500, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Despite their different racing backgrounds, competing in the Indianapolis 500 has always been the ultimate goal. [read more...]