Helio Castroneves Sets Record-Tying Fourth Win at Indy 500

This win makes Helio Castroneves the first driver to win overall at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Indianapolis 500 in the same calendar year.

Honda took its 14th Indianapolis 500 win, with Meyer Shank Racing’s Helio Castroneves scoring the victory – his record-tying fourth win—at The Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Starting from the eighth position for his 21st consecutive Indianapolis 500, Castroneves led just 20 laps en route to his fourth 500 historic victory, trading the lead several times with Honda powered Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou in the closing stages of the race. Palou would go on to finish second, less than half a second behind the victor.

It is ironic that Castroneves was eased out of Team Penske’s IndyCar Team for a seat racing sports cars. The fan favorite returned to open wheel racing this year and presented Roger Penske – now owner of the Indy 500 – with a reminder that age and cunning often overcome a track full of fast but ultimately losing young racers. That’s what happens when you dance – or race – with stars.

The victory at the 2021 Indianapolis 500 is the first NTT IndyCar Series win for Meyer Shank Racing since joining the series in 2017. In addition to their IndyCar program, Jim Meyer and Mike Shank run an IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship DPi program with the Acura and ARX-05 prototype.

This win makes Helio Castroneves the first driver to win overall at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Indianapolis 500 in the same calendar year. The Brazilian racer previously won at Daytona in the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-05 in January of 2021.

Second-place finisher Palou claims the point lead leaving Indy, overtaking his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, and Indy 500 polesitter, Scott Dixon 248-212. Honda also leads Chevrolet in the Manufacturers’ Championship, 476-472.

“This is absolutely amazing. It’s great to see the world get back to normal, it was a great crowd at the speedway and they got to see a fairy-tale ending for Helio,” said David Salters, President and Technical Director, Honda Performance Development. “I couldn’t be more pleased, I’m so proud of the team at HPD and everyone that represents Honda and everything they’ve achieved. The Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Indy 500, all out of HPD, in just one year—and all with Helio—it’s amazing. And, of course, massively well done to Mike [Shank]. This is an astonishing achievement and his team simply delivered.”

NTT IndyCar Series Drivers’ Championship

1. Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 248 points [1 win]
2. Scott Dixon, Chip Ganassi Racing Honda 212 [1 race win]
3. Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren SP, 211 [1 race win]
4. Simon Pagenaud, Team Penske Chevrolet 201
5. Rinus VeeKay, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet 191 [1 race win]