For Castroneves, Indy success follows scar

INDIANAPOLIS -- Success can soothe the pain. Helio Castroneves also knows that his anguish from the past six months will never completely disappear.

"The scar is going to be there," he said.

Castroneves spoke yesterday after posing for photos with his Penske Racing team, family members, sponsors and just about anybody else who wanted a picture with latest three-time Indianapolis 500 winner.

The traditional morning-after photo shoot had to be moved from the finish line to a cramped, humid hospitality room because of rain. But Castroneves, who held up three fingers and smiled broadly for picture after picture, didn't mind.

"Inside, outside, I don't care," he said. "It's Indy and we won."

His first two wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway came in 2001 and 2002, his first two years at the famed Brickyard. He also came close a couple of other times. This latest triumph could not have come at a better moment.

Just over a month ago, he was on trial for tax evasion and facing a possible six-year sentence that likely would have ended his racing career. The 34-year-old Brazilian was acquitted on most charges, and the remaining count was thrown out Friday.

The trial ended in Miami on April 17, and Castroneves was in his race car the next day in Long Beach, Calif. He has been on a joy ride since, capping it Sunday with his biggest victory.

"I think, 'Hey, what I've been through, you've got to appreciate where you are right now.' I'll never forget," Castroneves said. "But, definitely, I'll move on from it."

Castroneves was criticized by some for returning to driving so soon after his legal troubles ended. He insists there was no other way.

"When you put the helmet on, this is my world," Castroneves said. "It's like a shield. I have the control; I know what I'm doing. I've been doing this since I was 11, 12 years old. . . . And, honestly, the team gave me the time and actually they were expecting the time to be longer. But, fortunately, we didn't wait that long, and now we're sitting here as the winner of the Indy 500."

Canadian Alex Tagliani was selected as the race's rookie of the year. The 37-year-old driver for Conquest Racing started 33rd as a late replacement for veteran Bruno Junqueira and steadily improved to an 11th-place finish, the biggest gain by any of the 33 drivers.