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sports Friday 27 May 2022
Castroneves seeks historic fifth Indianapolis 500 victory

By JENNA FRYER Shank puts Castroneves in
AP Auto Racing Writer the same class of athletes
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — He- as Tom Brady, who was 43
lio Castroneves lost his first when he won his seventh
battle for position in the Super Bowl.
parking lot of Global Pre- "Exceptional people never
paratory Academy, a dual die; there are certain peo-
language school located ple who have it innately
less than 10 minutes from in them to exceed all ex-
Indianapolis Motor Speed- pectations," Shank told AP.
way. "Now at some point, the vi-
He'd been to the school sion is going to give away,
before, knew he was sup- right? It is what it is, but in my
posed to park in an alley mind, Helio could probably
around back and knew go for the fifth another four
he'd lead passenger Ro- or five times without being
main Grosjean through a too affected by age."
cafeteria door into their ap- Castroneves didn't get the
pearance. But the carpool qualifying run he hoped
line was jammed, so Cas- and starts 27th on Sunday,
troneves slowed his bronze and his goal is to have cut
Acura through the school the deficit in half and be in-
parking lot to wind his way side the top 12 by the half-
past the traffic. way mark.
A speeding hatchback "It's not going to be easy,
suddenly flashed past Cas- but it's not impossible," Cas-
troneves on his outside Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands by his car during qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 auto troneves said.
and darted into the empty race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Indianapolis. He is the second-oldest
parking spot ahead of him. Associated Press driver in the field, five
"Somebody's in a hurry," months younger than Tony
Castroneves chuckled. of the club and you're go- tion — elevated what was out this year, then we're go- Kanaan, a fellow Brazilian.
"Passing only counts on ing to be all by yourself. No- a one-car program into a ing to do it again." Castroneves recalled the
Sunday." body to hang out with. So team expected to chal- Castroneves is in a one- conversation here ayear
He will have to pass a lot be careful,'" Mears said. lenge for wins every race. year deal right now with ago centered on phasing
of cars this Sunday when Sorry, pal: Castroneves has It helped MSR expand and Shank that the team wants out veterans in IndyCar's
Castroneves attempts to every intention to race for sign Simon Pagenaud, an- to find a way to extend. changing of the guard.
become the first five-time his fifth Borg-Warner this other Indianapolis 500 win- Castroneves turned 47 ear- Age does not matter at
winner of the Indianapolis weekend. It will be his 22nd ner and teammate of Cas- lier this month and shows Indy, though.
500. The Brazilian joined A.J. start in the Indy 500, more troneves' at Penske, and no signs of slowing down. "I believe that a lot more
Foyt, Al Unser and men- than any other driver in the Castroneves' exuberant He led the students at his people understand that
tor Rick Mears as the only field, and that experience personality has raised the school stop in calisthenics this place, people talking
four-time winners of "The proved invaluable last year worth ethic of everyone and talked about the im- about age, that was the
Greatest Spectacle in Rac- as Castroneves predicted within the organization. portance of what stands in theme last year of all the
ing" last May in a raucous traffic patterns to use the "He has an undying spirit in- front of him at Indy. younger generations com-
surprise that produced one wake from lapped cars to side him that drives him to "There is a chance to make ing and winning races,"
of the most enthusiastic hold off Alex Palou for the do this and he's not done history and I want people to Castroneves said. "Winning
fence-climbing celebra- win. yet," team founder Michael understand how important last year shows that this
tions in race history. He is back for a second Shank told The Associated it is," Castroneves said. "The place is not about age, it
It took 30 years between time with Meyer Shank Rac- Press. "When he springs out people here in Indianapolis is not about being brave. It
Mears' fourth Indy 500 win ing, the team that offered of that motorhome, that's know, because they know is about having experience
for Castroneves to join the Castroneves the chance not (fake). That's how he what the Indy 500 means. and using it at the right
club. Mears wants him to to race Indianapolis again feels. He's excited to get I don't think people from time.
stick around for a bit. when his 20-year career the day going. We want the rest of the motorsports I feel after my win last year,
"I said, 'You'd better be very with Team Penske ended. our group to be tied with world know the position people now look at guys
careful what you wish for The Indy 500 win last year — him in history. I want to be I'm in and I'm here to show with experience here a lot
here. If you win that fifth, the first IndyCar victory for the team that gets him the them just how important different than maybe they
we're going to kick you out Michael Shank's organiza- fifth, and if it doesn't work this history is." did."q

Sugar Bowl moved to Dec. 31 to avoid conflict with NFL game

The Associated Press and the Cure Bowl in Or- day, the games usually has scheduled the final Bowl was played before
The Sugar Bowl has been lando, Florida, and end played on New Year's Day Monday regular-season Jan. 1 was 1995 when it
moved off its usual prime- with College Football Play- were moved to Jan. 2, game for that night, which was a Dec. 31 game be-
time spot to noon EST Dec. off championship on Jan 9 when the national holiday forced a relocation by the tween Virginia Tech and
31 to avoid a conflict with at the NFL stadium in Ingle- is observed. New Orleans-based Sugar Texas.
a Monday night NFL game. wood, California. The move to Monday, Jan. Bowl on the schedule. The Orange Bowl will be
The bowl schedule for the The CFP semifinals will be 2 is common in college The Rose Bowl is scheduled played the night of Dec.
upcoming season was re- held Dec. 31, a Saturday, football to avoid conflict- for a 5 p.m. EST start Jan. 2 30 and the Cotton Bowl
leased Thursday. at the Peach and Fiesta ing with the NFL. on ESPN, and will precede will also be played on Jan.
The games begin on Dec. bowls. But ESPN found itself with a the Bills at Bengals game. 2, with at 1 p.m. EST kickoff
16 with the Bahamas Bowl With Jan. 1 falling on Sun- conflict that day: The NFL The last time the Sugar scheduled.q