Helio Castroneves Leads Team Chevy with Runner-Up Finish at NOLA Motorsports Park
· Persistent rain forces Verizon IndyCar Series to shorten race to a 105-minute/47-lap race that was originally scheduled for 75 laps
· Helio Castroneves leads Chevrolet IndyCar V6 drivers to checkered flag with runner-up finish in INDY Grand Prix of Louisiana
· Juan Pablo Montoya finished fifth to give Team Chevy two of the top-five finishers
· Chevrolet Aero Kit cars with fully integrated 2.2 liter V6 twin turbo direct injected engines scored six of top-10 finishers
AVONDALE, LOUISIANA (April 12, 2015) – Helio Castroneves, No. 3 Hitachi Team Penske Chevrolet, scored the runner-up finishing position in today’s rain-shortened INDY Grand Prix of Louisiana. The inaugural Verizon IndyCar Series race at NOLA Motorsports Park was plagued by inclement weather throughout the three-day event, that eventually resulted in the race being shortened to a timed race of 105 minutes rather than the 75 laps originally scheduled.
Castroneves’ strong finish, which landed him second in the standings after two races, led the contingent of 12 Chevrolet Aero Kit cars with fully integrated 2.2 liter V6 twin turbo direct injected engines.
St Petersburg winner Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, finished fifth to give Team Chevy two of the top-five finishers, and maintain the lead in the driver standings.
Chevrolet drivers captured six of the top 10 with a sixth-place finish for Tony Kanaan, No. 10 NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet; defending Series’ champion Will Power, No.1 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet in seventh; Josef Newgarden, No. 67 Hartman Oil CFH Racing Chevrolet in ninth and Luca Filippi, No. 20 Fuzzy’s Vodka CFH Racing Chevrolet in 10th place at the checkered flag.
James Hinchcliffe (Honda) won the race with James Jakes (Honda) completing the podium.
Next up for Team Chevy in the Verizon IndyCar Series is the Streets of Long Beach on Sunday, April 19. 2015.
POST RACE PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT:
An interview with:
HELIO CASTRONEVES
THE MODERATOR: We’ll go ahead and get started with today’s post‑race press conference. We’re pleased to be joined by our second place finisher, Helio Castroneves of Team Penske. Helio finished second in the race. His 82nd career podium finish, and 36th career second place finish, it is also his 120th career Top 5 finish.
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Really, you have to say that?
THE MODERATOR: I have to say it all. Helio, obviously it was a very interesting race with a lot of different factors to consider. What was most challenging for you?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, we started, and it was a tough weekend for us. We definitely did everything we could. The conditions were very difficult, but I have to give a big thumb’s up for the entire Verizon IndyCar Series, the track workers to push to make this race happen. I mean, if you would have said in the beginning of the morning, there was no way we’d be racing. So for the amount of water that was out there, it turned out to be great.
Yes, unfortunately, there were some yellows, but when we had the rain tires, which it was fine. Up to that point it was very good. The guys made the right changes on the car, and I felt very comfortable. Then during the race, obviously, we had some issues out there with a back marker, I believe. But things happen for a reason.
Great strategy from the Hitachi boys, Roger and Jonathan, my engineers. So they were able to put us back on the spot. It was a good, fun fight with James Jakes. We were pushing each other, and unfortunately, there was a big accident, which I don’t know what happened, but obviously we take the points. We take the opportunity, and move on to Long Beach.
Q. Helio, how many times did you pit?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: No idea. A lot. It wasn’t our schedule to pit, but I think about four or five times.
Q. And you had contact. How did you finish second?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, I guess they did their math. Roger is very good in math, if you know that, and he was able to put it together with Jonathan, and I guess understand what might happen. I don’t know about if it was a time race laps and things like that, and I guess they figured it out and put us back in the game.
Q. I heard you say sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. Could you reiterate that for me?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Yeah, I mean, in those conditions we’re running up front and all of a sudden in a place that is very competitive fuel, when you go from 3rd to 21st. In the normal conditions it’s extremely difficult to come back. But in the way it was playing around with so many yellows and so many variables, amazing that we never gave up and were able to go back in the game with the strategy and timing and yellows and things like that. Things that happen outside of our control. If you went with a prediction, that wouldn’t be the way we would be finishing. But that’s why I said, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, and certainly I’ll take it today.
Q. A lot of people on social media are complaining about the race not being able to go more than one or two laps without a caution. What do you say to those people?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Well, unfortunately, it’s weather. Imagine like an oval. Sometimes we have a little bit of a puddle, an area that the whole track is dry but it keeps coming water out from the track. And you’re like, well, the track is dry. Why don’t you go out there and drive? Because our cars in those conditions are very difficult. So now we are running here. The track was dry, but in two areas it was a river. It was water running in those areas. For us, when we’re passing around those areas, even on the straightaway, you don’t have to do anything. Just not even turn. The car was about to take off. It was like ice.
So for those people that don’t understand, we’re trying our best, obviously, to keep the car on the pavement. But our cars are not supposed to be in those conditions, you know, and that’s why I give the credit for the series for pushing. We all want it. Don’t get me wrong. We want to race. We don’t want the yellow because it takes the rhythm away.
James had more push to pass than me. I’m sure he was like, man, I want to actually keep going because Hinchcliffe also didn’t have enough fuel. So there were so many things that we didn’t want, but sometimes it’s necessary. Today, I have to say, a credit to a lot of drivers for not tearing more equipment. Especially the limits that we have in those circumstances with the aero kit. I thought everybody did a great job.
Q
Q. You’re a veteran driver. How tough were these conditions?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: It’s extremely hard when you have slick tires and going through the critical areas that when you have water on the racetrack. Again, even I got caught in one of those restarts and I’m spinning out out there because, again, it was damp. Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish where it’s wet because of the color of the asphalt.
You know, it was hard. There was no question it was a great testament for everyone to keep under control in those conditions. But, again, for us to be able to be here, it’s just a great testimony of never give up and pushing everybody to the limit.
Q. You said two spots, I know 13 was one. Was it the front straight where the other water was?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: No, it was the back straight between 9 and 10, the fast chicane. I mean, it was a straightaway, but it was a big area. Which I keep seeing the workers going on the end of 9, but I always kept saying on the radio, it’s not 9 that’s the problem. They’re cleaning in an area where we’re not even going there. But I know it’s so many things, and for them to be doing the short, short period of time. But 9, between 9 and 10 and 13 were the toughest places to handle the car.
Q. This was the first event here. Would you like to see it again?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Oh, no question. I mean, we’ve been here under dry conditions, obviously, the track is a very tough track in terms of physical, very technical. Like I said, and I take that in a good way. Every first event you have some ‑‑ and they went through a very ‑‑ a great test. Meaning the worst conditions is the wet, and it was raining like no other day to be honest, and to pass this test, to move on, it was a great credit for the entire people in New Orleans.
Yes, for sure, we want to go back, and hopefully it will be a drier day, sunshine out there, so everybody, not only ourselves, but all the fans can have a better time.
Q. It may seem like a strange question, but the enhancements to the body work and especially the front wing, could you tell if that made any difference?
HELIO CASTRONEVES: Yeah, it was unfortunate the incident. It was about a back marker, and I thought he was aware of what was going on. And, unfortunately, even if it would have been the strongest front wing, I don’t think it would have been able to come out of that scenario without any damage.
But, again, we’re always looking for improvements. At this point, the IndyCar Series is doing everything they can too, and I think it’s been working.
Q. It didn’t seem like an issue really.
HELIO CASTRONEVES: No, well, it depends on the track. Remember, this is much wider. But at the end of the day, you’re right, it didn’t have much of an ‑‑ and I think it wasn’t an issue even on the street course. Again, it was the first race. Everybody is excited. The space is a little more limited. James and I were like switching positions without having any issue because we have space for you to actually give room and you can find other ways.
When you go into a street course, you don’t have that luxury and you end up touching. When you touch, our cars are not supposed to be touching, and that’s why we didn’t have an issue today.