Helio Castroneves understands better than most how hard it is to win the Indy 500. The charismatic Brazilian won here as a rookie in 2001 and then backed it up with a victory the next year, becoming only the fifth driver in the history of the race to win two in a row. Since then, six years have passed with no fence-climbing celebrations at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the man dubbed "Spiderman.''"The first year was pretty tough,'' Castroneves said. "The second year was even tougher. The third year, I had like a bullet. This car was incredible, supersonic. I finished second. So, I learned that you can't let opportunities go by. You've got to go for it. That's what we're going to do this Sunday.''A win this year would be particularly significant for Castroneves. On Friday, federal prosecutors dropped the remaining U.S. tax evasion conspiracy charge against him and his sister, clearing Castroneves of all the charges that once threatened to derail his career.
In just his third race since returning to the IndyCar Series, Castroneves will start from the pole on Sunday, with Penske Racing teammate Ryan Briscoe next to him in the middle of the front row. That 1-2 punch gives team owner Roger Penske a good shot at his 15th Indy win. "But, to win here, everything has to work perfectly, everything,'' said Penske, whose last winner was Sam Hornish Jr. in 2006.
