Racing News: Helio Castroneves Wins Indy 500

STORYBOOK: With the final charge pending against him dropped on Friday, Helio Castroneves wrote the final chapter in his unlikely return from tax-evasion charges, by winning his third Indianapolis 500 on Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Castroneves earned a record $3,048,005 for winning the 93rd Indy 500.

RAIN MAN: David Reutimann collected his first NASCAR Sprint Cup victory in Monday’s rain-shortened version of the 50th annual Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

SEPARATE VIEWS: One year ago, Humpy Wheeler retired as General Manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Now thanks to Wheeler’s former boss, Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith, speaking out, the two are embroiled in a nasty case of he-said-he-said in terms of how Wheeler’s departure from the track came about.

DIED: Popular open-wheel racer turned broadcaster Larry Rice died of cancer at age 63. Longtime racing official Gordon Betz passed on at age 91.

HALL OF FAME: The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame will induct 13 members this Saturday at its facility in Knoxville, Iowa. Those inductees are: Fred Rahmer, Jac Haudenschild, Rip Williams, Roger Rager, Jackie Holmes, Lee Osborne, Cavino M. Petillo, Jack Elam, Lee Elkins, Louis Senter, Allan Brown, Jim Chini and Tommy Nicholson.

MORE RACES: After a fifth-place finish in a third Penske Racing car at the Indianapolis 500, Australian Will Power is expected to get a ride for additional races this season. Paul Tracy has also picked up an additional two races with KV Racing Technology.

STILL ON TOP: With his fifth victory in six races this season Sunday at the Grand Prix of Monaco, Jenson Button remained at the top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings, which rates drivers from all auto-racing disciplines. The rankings appear weekly in America’s Motorsports Authority.

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