Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Hélio Castroneves (photo) and Tony Kanaan, arguably, the best driver still waiting to win the 500, were at the center of high drama in the closing minutes of Pole Day 2007. Throughout the preceding week of practice Tony had posted speeds among the top five every day but one. Castroneves had also been rabbit quick all week. Hélio and Tony are members of two of the top three racing teams at Indy, Team Penske and Andretti Green Racing respectively. Those teams and the Target Chip Ganassi Racing team dominated the proceedings. As the clock wound down Castroneves and Kanaan were trailing Scotsman Dario Franchitti of Andretti Green Racing, New Zealander Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Hélio’s American teammate Sam Hornish.

With only minutes before the close of qualifications Castroneves, who had withdrawn his starting row 3rd position qualifying run was closing in on taking the Pole in dramatic fashion. There would only be time for one other qualifying run, and Kanaan - who had already withdrawn his first place in the second row qualifying time – was preparing to take the track. In a heartbeat Kanaan eclipsed the speed needed to take the Pole from Hélio on the first of his four qualifying laps. His second lap was even faster! Kanaan’s third lap was a tad slower, but he still had an average fast enough to overtake Castroneves. The tension was palpable, the fans that had remained for the closing drama rose to their feet, clapping and shouting their approval. Kanaan’s final qualifying lap fell just short, the prestige and the $100,000 that accompanied it were Hélio’s.

For Team Penske, which has won the 500 with Brazilians Emerson Fittipaldi (twice), Hélio (twice) and Gil de Ferran, this was the fourteenth Pole captured to match fourteen race-day victories. The 2007 event will be the 91st running of the 500, which was founded in 1911 but interrupted during World War II. How happy was Hélio following the drama? “I think I need a moment here!” he exclaimed as the AAMCO Transmission Pole trophy was presented. Moments later he pointed to his friend Kanaan and shouted “He’s right there … there he is … there he is … job well done,” then turned back with a broad smile and added “Give me that check, that’s it!”

The Close Call

At both the trophy presentation and the press conference which followed, Hélio (photo - standing over teammate Hornish at post qualification press conference)suggested the decision to withdraw his earlier front row 3rd position qualifying time was influenced by the aggressive confidence of the Team Penske race team. “They told me,” he said, a little tongue-in-cheek “whatever decision you make we’re 100% behind you and I thought ‘darn it,’ now I gotta go for it.” He later confessed that “Sometimes it’s a little bit tough, I mean you have to hold it, you have to make it, but it’s really great that you can have guys (behind you) that you trust”. .

As the press conference wound down Hélio added that “Like Tim says” (Team Penske President Tim Cindric), “this is the place to take a chance.” Fortunately for racing fans the good-natured Hélio’s gamble was better than his English. “It’s like crabs,” he said to ripples of amusement “a roll of the dice”. Say it any way you like Hélio, the stands will be full of fans at the world’s largest single day sporting event come May 27, and many, many of them will be rooting for you!.