Backstretch Motorsports

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.
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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...]

JOLIET, Ill., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008 - Helio Castroneves raced from the 28th starting position to first, winning a photo finish in the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway, but it wasn’t enough to keep Scott Dixon from winning his second IndyCar Series championship.

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Three races remain in championship battle

With three races remaining in 2008, Scott Dixon holds a 78-point lead over Helio Castroneves. Dan Wheldon is 138 points back, and Tony Kanaan trails by 147. Dixon has a record-tying six wins this season, while Castroneves has seven second-place finishes. Can Dixon extend his lead or will his competitors close the gap?

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Monday Aug 18, 2008
Today’s IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights headlines
1. Four remain eligible for IndyCar Series title
2. Matos in familiar territory
3. Potekhen returns at Infineon

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Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Fast Facts

Castroneves eyes three-peat as IndyCar Series returns to St. Petersburg
Firestone Indy Lights teams ready to tackle doubleheader weekend
Transition Teams find more familiar turf on street course.

Castroneves hopes to dance in Victory Lane
Helio Castroneves, the winner of the past two races at St. Petersburg and the winner of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” last November, hopes to return to Victory Lane for a third consecutive season. The affable South Florida resident has led 135 laps at St. Petersburg the last two seasons. Only two drivers have ever won three consecutive races at the same track. Dan Wheldon won three in a row at Homestead-Miami Speedway (2005-07), and Scott Dixon has captured three in a row at Watkins Glen (2005-07). Castroneves finished fourth in the season opener at Homestead-Miami.

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