Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Castroneves aims for 3 straight Indy 500 titles

Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003 | 9:40 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Helio Castroneves, dressed in street clothes, walked largely unnoticed through the garage area at Daytona International Speedway before last Friday's IROC race, stopped only occasionally by another driver or a member of the racing community -- and rarely being asked to sign an autograph.

The personable Brazilian was enjoying the relative anonymity because he realized that in three months, when the IRL IndyCar Series visits Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he likely won't be able to take three steps without being besieged by fans and the media.

Castroneves already is a member of an elite group of five drivers who have won back-to-back Indianapolis 500s. This May, he'll be attempting to become the only driver in the 87-year history of the race to win Indy three times in a row.

"Right now, I'm enjoying it but I guess when I get closer to the race I'll probably be like, 'OK guys, you're freaking me out a little bit,' " Castroneves said of the attention that will be focused on him.

"It's part of the game, you know; records are meant to be broken and right now I'm in a situation that hopefully we can do that. lf not, it's not meant to be."

Castroneves, whose effervescent personality and trademark fence-climbing following a race victory has made him a fan favorite in open-wheel racing, said he has another goal this year in addition to winning Indy.

"I want to win the championship," said Castroneves, who finished second to Sam Hornish Jr. in a tight battle for the IRL crown in 2002. "I'm not satisfied; I always want to achieve my goals and obviously Indianapolis is one of them and the championship is another one.

"I enjoyed (the championship battle last year)," Castroneves said. "Unfortunately, we finished second but that's why we're back again and we're going to try and finish just one spot ahead of where we finished last year. I was disappointed because it was so close but second, I'll take it too."

With the addition of former CART drivers Michael Andretti, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan and the return of former IRL champion Kenny Brack to the series, Castroneves said he expects it to be even tougher to compete for the championship this season, which opens March 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"It's going to be great competition and for sure it's going to be tougher," he said. "This year, we going to have more guys, I believe, competing for the lead. Instead of three cars only last year with a chance (to win the championship), we're probably going to have more. Every race is going to be a great race.

Marlboro Team Penske driver Gil de Ferran was the second quickest in Tuesday's test at 206.756, Scott Sharp was third fastest at 206.230 and Castroneves was fourth quickest at 206.152.

Danny Lasoski, who drives for NASCAR Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart, won last year's WoO season opener at Kings Speedway.

After stopping at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway on Saturday, the Outlaws visit the half-mile dirt track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a two-night show Feb. 28 and March 1.