INDIANAPOLIS — Helio Castroneves put his foot down yesterday and proved he’s still the one to beat at Indy.
The defending 500 champion and three-time race winner wrapped up a wild qualification day by topping 228 mph on two of his four laps, averaging 227.970 mph to win his fourth career Indianapolis 500 pole. Nobody, including Castroneves, had touched 227.9 in practice even on one lap. Fans were so shocked by the burst of speed that they gave Castroneves standing ovations after his second, third and fourth laps.
“This place, you’ve got to expect the unexpected, my friend. That was a great result,” said Castroneves, who now becomes the favorite as he tries to become the fourth man to win four Indy 500s. “I was ready. I didn’t want to keep waiting and see all the times. I wanted to go for it.”