indy 500: row 1 milk chugging contest on jimmy fallon

The starting row of the 2009 Indy 500 - Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe, and Dario Franchitti - were on the Late Show with Jimmy Fallon last night for a little milk chugging contest. The video can be seen on Helio Castroneves' website HERE.

indy car: thoughts on long beach qualifying

The second race of the 2009 Indy Car Series season will take place on the streets of Long Beach tomorrow. Qualifying was this afternoon. I’m still not sure how I feel about the Fast Six/”Knock-out Qualifying” method. Will Power (yes, that’s his real name) won the pole after moving from the No. 3 car to a new, third Team Penske Car, The Verizon No. 12. It’s a really sharp looking car. And so very Penske. I hope something will work out for Power to stay on with Penske past Kansas. But it was SO great to see Helio back in the No. 3 car today. He seemed so happy and was smiling non-stop; his dimples were like craters. I loved what he said to Jack Arute on learning he had been exonerated in his tax evasion charges.

“To be honest, I was, I was like just, uh, crying. You know I am a very emotional person. When I’m happy I’m crying. When I’m sad, I cry.” - Helio Castroneves

It’s that genuine personality that makes Helio my favorite driver. Unfortunately he spun and ended up with the rear of his car in the wall during qualifying at Long Beach. But he won the last time he raceed there, in 2001. Maybe there'll be a little bit of fence climbing tomorrow. I’m just glad to see him back.

Long Beach is an interesting course that should make racing very interesting. There are sharp hairpin turns and I'm sure even some of the best drivers will end up in the tires tomorrow.

Toyota of Long Beach
Sunday April 19
3:30 p.m. (Eastern) on VERSUS

helio freed

I guess I won't be needing those "FREE HELIO" t-shirts for Indy after all. Helio has been acquitted! I feel like dancing in the streets. And word on those streets is that Penske has a third car ready and waiting in Long Beach. I guess that means Will Power will be moved over to the No. 12 car so Helio can take his rightful place back in the No. 3. Oh, this season just got about 900 times better.

• IndyStar.com: Jury acquits Castroneves on tax charges
• MiamiHearld.com: Jury acquits Helio Castroneves, his sister and lawyer
• AP: Indy driver Castroneves acquitted in tax case

Photos by IndyCar.com and MiamiHearld.com

libere spiderman

So, Helio Castroneves’ tax evasion case is currently in court. I have been rather silent about this matter because I don’t even like to think about it. The thought of a 2009 Indy Car season without Helio hurts my heart. And, the thought of an Indy Car Series with no Helio… ever… again… never… never… again… I die.

Worst case scenario – Helio is found guilty and deported back to Brazil never to race (or, it has to be said, dance) in America again.

Jeff, of My Name Is IRL, has been providing updates on Helio’s case on his blog. Follow along at: My Name Is IRL. Just look for the "get out of jail, free" cards for trial related posts.

Meanwhile, I am preparing myself. Should this case drag out past the first several races of the season I am gearing up to print my own t-shirts for the Month of May. Just look for me near the corner of 16th & Georgetown between the turkey legs and a guy named "Bob".

where's the reset button

Today.

Well, today was, um, interesting?

I left for work and before I had even made it out of my neighborhood the front of my car became intimately acquainted with the front of a minivan. The other driver was stopped at a stop sign (at a two way stop…cross traffic does not stop…Jennifer had the right-of-way intersection.) but began proceeding across the street because, evidently, Hondas are so hard to see in the daylight. Especially when you’re gawking at yard sale wares across the street and are not, I don’t know, paying attention to on-coming traffic. I had no where to go. I was able to turn to the left a little which, I believe, probably saved us from more damage or possible physical injury. I am very grateful that no one was seriously hurt.

I am okay, but very sore. The seatbelt sure did do its job in restraining me. But also cut across my chest and knocked the wind out of me. My mom took me to the ER where they took lots of pictures – I think about 15 X-rays - to make sure nothing was cracked or…whatever. My sternum is tender, I have a “burn” from the seatbelt, and my neck, shoulders, and back are sore. The wonderful ER doctor (who, thank You God, had a great sense of humor) advised me to take a couple of days off work and take it easy for the rest of week. He also said I will be even more sore tomorrow and sent me home with a couple of prescriptions. Everyone at the hospital was so nice and caring and I really appreciated that. After the nurse took my blood pressure, pulse, and temperature one last time another woman came into the room to finish discharging me. She began going over my information and said, “Oh, I went to high school with you.” Turns out she was a sophomore when I was a senior. I love being back in Bowling Green. After being gone from the city where I went to high school for 15 years it’s nice to be back and have those hometown experiences. Especially after a long morning in the emergency room.

Honestly, I don’t know how those Indy Car drivers crash into walls at 200 mph, say, “that’s really going to hurt tomorrow”, and get back in the car and do it all again. I was going 30 – 35 mph and I am no hurry to get back behind the wheel at this point. And speaking of Indy Car drivers…

When I thought the day couldn’t be any more crappy I learn this news, Castroneves faces federal tax evasions charges, and I just wanted to cry or throw-up or both. I half expected to watch the vice presidential debates tonight and see Sarah Palin rip off her wig and mask, ala Scooby Doo ending, and really be Dan Quayle in disguise. Or I thought I might turn on the evening news and learn that Amy Grant had been arrested for killing puppies. Or that the Colonel’s “11 Herbs and Spices” include asbestos and kitty litter.

Tomorrow I think I’ll just stay in bed.

are you watching the showdown at chicago right now?

September 7

3:30 pm ET

caption?

let me count the ways...

Helio Castorneves on Up to Speed.

I think Helio gives the best answer to the oft asked Up to Speed question, “If you were not a racecar driver, what would you be…?”. I especially enjoyed the Cyrano de Bergerac like story of Helio and Tony Kanaan chasing girls as young teenaged racecar drivers in Brazil.

my final plea

Wanna know something that could make me feel all better?

Helio Castroneves could win Dancing With the Stars!Please, don't forget to vote!

1-800-868-3409

text VOTE to 3409

abc.com

1-800-868-3409

portuguese and harry potter

Helio and Julianne interview one another for ET

9 + 9 + 9

Helio dances the Viennese Waltz

i have never cared much for the jive

Several times this week I've tried to post Helio Castorneves' performance of the jive on Dancing With the Stars. But the video just will not embed. Three 8's from the judges isn't bad, at all - but I know Helio can do better. I just don't like the jive. I think it is a funny dance.

Helio and The Jive

This coming Monday Helio will dance either the paso doble or the waltz. I'm hoping for the paso since it involves a lot of stomping and we've all seen Helio's great stomping abilities on a few race tracks after some DNF's.

hey mambo!

A summary of last night’s Dancing With the Stars, which includes a little commentary by yours truly, is now up at My Name Is IRL. Check it.

more helio; better get used to it

I’ve been invited to be a roving reporter for My Name is IRL so that I may cover Helio Castroneves on Dancing With the Stars this season. Okay, so I’ll be roving in my living room. But I will be offering a bit of commentary on how Helio is doing in the competition. So, please read Jeff’s blog each week and check back here for further thoughts on how my IRL boyfriend is doing.

During one of my many viewings of Helio’s first dance routine I realized I was smiling like a big ol’ goofball. “Yay! Helio! Good!” I am so very very proud of him. I’ll admit, I was really nervous prior to his performance Tuesday night. Like final lap, “this is for the Championship” nervous. Perhaps I have pinned a lot of hope on Helio. I have seen what DWTS has meant for the careers of pervious contestants. I am counting on DWTS to make Helio Castroneves a household name – of course half of America will pronounce that name incorrectly.

Helio did not let me down. First off, he just was Helio. He came out with a smile and charmed everyone. He seemed to genuinely enjoy himself and there is obvious chemistry between him and Julianne. Perhaps I’m a bit biased, but having watched every season and having a feel for what the judges are looking for, I thought he gave one of the best ballroom performances I have seen in the first round during any season. There were a few spots where his leg extensions could have been a little firmer. But his holds were strong and he seemed relaxed. As Carrie Ann said, he is a natural.

The judges were also pleased with Helio and Julianne’s performance, giving them the highest score, a 25, of the men. Never discount the power of the judges’ scores and comments. They can have a strong influence on the viewers’ votes. After seeing her cha cha cha on Monday I believe Helio’s main competition will be Cheetah Girl, Sabrina Bryan. We’ve seen that she can handle the Latin dances. But will she is graceful enough to pull off the ballroom routines? Helio is Brazilian, so I have no worries there.

I’ve been telling you that you would fall in love with Helio, as I have. And with the feedback I’ve received I think I was right! It’s like when you’ve known about a really great band for a long time and all of the sudden they break into the Top 40 Billboard charts and you hear their song wherever you go and suddenly people know their name and you’re like, “See, I’ve been telling you! Now you all know my secret!”

You can watch the performance below.

a new campaign

Tuesday, September 25 on ABC

dancing with the stars

helio castroneves

ponha em seus sapatos dançantes

As far as I can recall this is the first time I have ever heard Helio speak Portuguese. It was kind of weird. Sorry about the bare bottoms.

i am putting you on notice

A few weeks ago IRL Chief Steward, Brian Barnhardt, said he was putting all drivers in the league on “probation” for what he was felt was overly aggressive driving. There has been some scratching of heads as fans have tried to figure out just what that means. After some comments made on Sunday at the race at Belle Isle I am putting Tomas Sheckter on probation. After being involved in an accident with Helio Castroneves, Sheckter-the driver I would most like to make-out with, based on purely superficial reasons, but who I would never make-out with because I really don't do things like that-said maybe Helio “should concentrate less on dancing and more on driving”. Tomas, Helio and his dancing will bring new fans to the IRL who may actually end up being your fans. Those fans may buy your t-shirts, hats, and die cast cars. They may buy race tickets. You better start praying Helio dances his butt off when he's on Dancing With the Stars. You better offer to wipe his brow and polish his dancing shoes.

I have a goal to finish the neverending dog bed THIS week before the yarn for a new project arrives in the mail from Knitpicks. Nine inches of purling and knitting to go! It’s very much within reach. I added my #3 Helio stitch marker made by Michelle in hopes that I can reach speeds of over 220 mph on my Addi Turbos.