DEREK BELL
The Legend
Every month or so, a bunch of us former racers get together on Zoom. We are old mates and sparring partners, our careers having overlapped at various stages. It’s a great way of staying in touch, not least because we are spread far and wide. There’s me, Tim Schenken, John Fitzpatrick, David Hobbs and Brian Redman. I don’t really think of myself as being someone who looks backwards rather than forwards, but I enjoy reminiscing about the old days with those who were there. Sometimes, a few home truths tumble out, too, and I think: ‘No wonder you won, you sneaky so-and-so.’
I mention this only because we stayed in motor racing for a very long time. I wouldn’t want to bet on whose career was longest, but I suspect it may have been mine. Inevitably, when you have raced well into middle age and a bit beyond, you tend to root for the guy with a few years under his belt. Which is why I cannot tell you how happy I was when Hélio Castroneves crossed the line to win the Indianapolis 500 at the end of May. His was a drive of great maturity. Given the number of people standing and clapping come flag fall, the right man won. Hélio is 46 years old.
The Brazilian is well-liked across the board in the USA, even if his name isn’t perhaps so well-known in Europe. He is someone who radiates positivity and never seems to have an off day. He is always smiling. Hélio is one of those rare athletes whose personality ensures their name transcends their chosen sport. And besides, he won Dancing with the Stars way back when…
The point is that he is a super bloke to whom everyone seems to warm because, well, he isn’t faking it. He is a nice guy – one who just happens to be a phenomenal racing driver.
The thing is, for every driver, even those such as myself who hated the thought of retirement, there comes a time when you have to face facts. You have gone through the coming man stage, perhaps even been touted as being the next big thing. If you’re lucky, you then achieve big things, but, just as likely, instead you eke out a living as a handy professional; have licence, will travel, and all that.
And then, it happens: you find yourself being asked about your plans once you finish driving, or, even worse still, the team you’re driving for suggests that possibly, perhaps, maybe, you should consider hanging up your helmet.
Hélio went through this recently. After 20 mostly glorious years at Penske, he started this year without a full-time drive. Nevertheless, he was one of the winning drivers in the Daytona 24 Hours in February. And then he secured a seat for the Indy 500. The general consensus, if not among his rivals, was that he wasn’t likely to be a threat, the prevailing attitude being that he’s driving for a team that has nothing like the resources of the bigger players; he would probably be there or thereabout, but victory? And, of course, there’s his age. Perhaps he was trying too hard to relive old glories.
All of which was brought into sharp relief as soon as the flag dropped. In stark contrast to the other classic motor race that occurred in May, the Monaco Grand Prix, here there was overtaking, and lots of it. I can hand-on-heart say that it was one of the best races I had ever witnessed. Unlike some previous Indy 500 races, here was real depth in the field. Those who made the cut deserved to be there. Accidents were few and far between, too. But, more than anything, Hélio was in front – or near the front – for the entire race.
He only narrowly beat Chip Ganassi Racing man Alex Palou, who is about half his age. However, I was convinced that Hélio was going to win. At about threequarter distance, I realised what he was doing. It was like a game of chess at more than 200mph. The way he timed his moves, the way he worked the traffic, the way he let Palou lead in the dying stages, only to be in front when it mattered. It was an epic dogfight, but age and experience won over youth and enthusiasm. As impressed as I was with Palou, I couldn’t have been happier that it was a guy with flecks of grey in his hair who came home the victor.
It marked the end of a 12-year dry spell, Hélio having been a fixture at The Brickyard for two decades. In taking the spoils in 2021, he joins AJ Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser Sr in being a four-time winner. That’s a pretty elite club, for sure. And you know what? I wouldn’t want to bet against him becoming the first-ever five-time winner. It just goes to show that we only stop succeeding when we stop believing.
‘HÉLIO CASTRONEVES IS A NICE GUY – ONE WHO JUST HAPPENS TO BE A PHENOMENAL RACING DRIVER’