Biography

On October 3, 2008, he pleaded not guilty in federal court in Miami, FL, on charges of income-tax evasion for allegedly failing to pay taxes on more than $5 million in earnings. His sister, Kati, who is his manager, was also charged.

Racing fans gave Castroneves the nickname "Spider-Man" because of the form of victory celebration he pioneered. Helio was the first to climb the track-side debris fence as a form or celebration, a practice since adopted by several NASCAR drivers and current NASCAR and former INDY Car Series driver Tony Stewart.

Split from his fiancée, Aliette Vazquez, after six years.

With his partner, Julianne Hough, became the 2007 champion of Dancing with the Stars (2005) on November 27, 2007.

Four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 (2001, 2002, 2009 and 2021), the first foreign driver to achieve such feat, sharing the record for most Indianapolis 500 victories with the legendary drivers A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears. At 46 years old, he also became the fourth-oldest winner in Indianapolis 500 history, behind Al Unser Sr. (47, 1987), Bobby Unser (47, 1981) and Emerson Fittipaldi (46, 1993).