|
|
|
05/20/13 10:25:00
Printable Page
05/20 10:22 CDT Castroneves, Franchitti chase 4th Indy 500 win
Castroneves, Franchitti chase 4th Indy 500 win
By RACHEL COHEN
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Helio Castroneves hopes a new generation of fans sees a
four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500.
It's been 22 years since the last driver won his fourth Indy 500 title. Now
Castroneves and Dario Franchitti are trying to join the exclusive club at
Sunday's race.
"What an incredible opportunity for the fans to have not only one but two guys
trying to make history," Castroneves said Monday while promoting the race with
Franchitti in New York City. "Forget about the names; forget about who it is.
But imagine people who didn't even see the last time when the guy won four
times."
Rick Mears, who won his fourth in 1991, A.J. Foyt and Al Unser are the only
three drivers with four victories.
Franchitti won his third last year, and this will be the first time since 1987
that two three-time winners will start the Indy 500. Scotland's Franchitti or
Brazil's Castroneves would be the first foreign-born four-time winner.
Castroneves won his third in 2009, so he's now used to the pressure of trying
to tie the record. Since then, Franchitti was won twice.
Castroneves qualified eighth, while Franchitti will start 17th after a
frustrating day Saturday. Then again, things didn't look much better a year ago
_ and he went out and won.
"Last year, we had an even worse start to the season," Franchitti said. "We
were sitting here this time last year having qualified 16th, and we were
thinking we're in trouble. Honda brought an updated engine to the race, and all
of a sudden we're in the game."
|
