Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 HEALTH
Saturday 26 May 2018
Part-timers Danica, Helio garner full attention at Indy 500

By JENNA FRYER won the pole, then failed
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Part- to qualify for Sunday's race
time drivers and one-off because of a series of mis-
rides are usually after- takes by his race team.
thoughts at the Indianap- An embarrassing and
olis 500, where the sport's heartbreaking setback for
brightest stars tend to shine one of IndyCar's champi-
in the hot sun on the final onship contenders — and
Sunday of May. a driver with crossover ap-
This year, the part-time driv- peal from his stint as run-
er is Helio Castroneves. ner-up on "Dancing With
And the one-off is Danica The Stars" — Hinchcliffe did
Patrick. not want the field of 33 ex-
Throw in a deep, four-car panded to accommodate
stable from newly minted him. The Canadian was
NASCAR Hall of Fame own- uncomfortable asking an-
er Roger Penske, the race other driver to give up his
favorite starting from the seat for him, and he was
back row and a big name determined to show strong
sitting out the race and the sportsmanship during this
102nd edition of the "Great- setback in his strange histo-
est Spectacle in Racing" ry with Indy. So Hinchcliffe
has every expectation of has honored every sponsor
living up to its nickname. appearance, did a media
Yes, Castroneves can win tour to promote the race
this race for a record-ty- in New York City, and has
ing fourth time. He's been supported teammates as
chasing that mark since they've prepared to race
2010 and has finished sec- without him.
ond three times, includ- Simon Pagenaud, of France, leads a pack out of the pits during the final practice session for the He solemnly watched Fri-
ing last year when he was IndyCar Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in Indianapolis Friday, May day's pit crew competition
beaten by Takuma Sato, 25, 2018. in a black T-Shirt that read
the first Japanese winner in Associated Press simply: "Indy 500 or No-
race history. where."
Castroneves will have Pen- again after Sunday. Like enough credit to her," Cas- shot to win. She's nervous Even without Hinchcliffe,
ske calling his race as "The Castroneves, she returned troneves said. "She's not about the opportunity but the race still has celebrity
Captain" seeks his 17th Indy to Indy with a car capable only stayed away so many excited about her future. appeal. Alexander Rossi,
500 victory. But this is so very of winning. years from IndyCar, and She's also mindful of what winner of the 100th run-
different for the popular Chevrolet , winner of only come back, not only to be she's meant to racing, ning, and Conor Daly start
Brazilian. Penske needed two Indy 500s since its 2012 in a race ... it shows that those she has inspired and next to each other on the
him in sports cars this year return to IndyCar, came she's an amazing talent. what her final trip around back row and were team-
so he moved Castroneves to Indianapolis Motor She opens so many doors Indy will mean to those who mates on reality show "The
out of IndyCar, but prom- Speedway intent on end- for so many young ladies, have followed her career. Amazing Race." Rossi had
ised him a seat in the race ing Honda's two-year win- young girls, to become "Making an impact on peo- a tire problem in qualify-
for a shot at that fourth jug ning streak. With the fast- race car drivers. Coura- ple's lives, having the abil- ing that put him 32nd on
of milk. est cars in the field, there geous for her, as well, mak- ity to make an impact on the grid. Should he win, it
Castroneves is part of the are Chevys in seven of the ing the decision to stop. people's lives, is really pow- would be a record — both
talented Penske lineup that first nine starting spots. Four "I don't know if I have that erful," she said. "What do I Ray Harroun (1911) and
put all four of its Chevrolets went to Penske drivers and courage to do it. Good for say to somebody if they're Louis Meyer (1936) won the
in the front nine of the start- three to Ed Carpenter Rac- her. I will try and make it as like, 'How did you get to race from 28th. But any-
ing grid. He was the favorite ing, which is fielding a car hard as I can, her last 500 — where you are? What do I thing is possible this year,
to win the pole but didn't for Patrick and put team for sure it's an honor to be do? Give me something in- including temperatures in
get the run he needed and owner Ed Carpenter on the sharing the track with her spirational?' It's my story. It the 90s that could make it
wound up eighth, right be- pole. all the years that I did." might not be conventional, the hottest Indy 500 in his-
hind Patrick. Everyone knows she can Patrick briefly got on track but I'm not. It doesn't even tory. It will also be the final
Her return to racing's big- win her finale, but not many Friday, the final day of have to be complicated. Indy 500 on ABC , ending
gest stage comes seven believe she will actually pull practice, but had to take The ability to affect people the second partnership in
years after Patrick left for it off. Patrick believes in her- her car to the garage for and inspire people is really sports and television history
NASCAR. The only woman self, though, and her peers an electrical issue. It might powerful. I've never over- after its 54th running.
to lead laps in both the have no doubt she will im- have caused another driv- looked it. I've never said I The drivers aren't sure what
Indy 500 and the Daytona press again at Indy. er to panic, but not Patrick, didn't ask for it and I don't to predict and have no
500 has no plans to race "Not enough people give who recognizes she has a want it. I honor it and try to idea what kind of race it
do a good job with it." will be.
The same could be said "Everybody is worried, but
for James Hinchcliffe, the honestly that's going to
driver who replaced Pat- make it more of race about
rick when she left for Indy- pure talent of the guys,
Car and grew into one of how smart are you with the
the sport's most popular tools? Saving this? Saving
drivers. He had a near-fatal that?" Tony Kanaan said.
accident at Indy in 2015, "It's uncomfortable, but I
returned the next year and like it."q