Firsts/Wins/Poles

FIRST INDIANAPOLIS 500 VICTORY…MAY 27, 2001
In his rookie debut, Castroneves wins the 85th running of the Indianapolis 500. Only the eighth rookie to accomplish this feat.

FIRST INDYCAR START FOR TEAM PENSKE…HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY, 2000
Castroneves qualified eighth in his first start with Team Penske, but finished 25th after an electrical issue forced him to retire from the event. 

FIRST SEASON TO LEAD EVERY LAP IN TWO RACES…2001
Castroneves scores wire-to-wire victories in Long Beach and Detroit. Michael Andretti is the only other driver in CART history to lead every lap in two races in a single season (1992-Toronto and Monterey).

FIRST INDY CAR WIN…DETROIT, 2000
Castroneves scores an emotional first victory in Detroit and the “fence climb” victory celebration is born.

FIRST INDY CAR POLE…THE MILWAUKEE MILE, 1999
Captures his first pole in his second season on the CART circuit.

FIRST WIN FROM THE POLE…LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY, 2000

FIRST INDY CAR RACE…MARLBORO GRAND PRIX OF MIAMI, 1998
Starts 22nd and places 24th due to contact.

FIRST TRACK RECORD…LAGUNA SECA RACEWAY, 2000
Castroneves captures the pole with a lap of 118.969 mph.

FIRST LAP LED…LONG BEACH, 1998
Leads 16 laps in only his third CART start.

FIRST 500-MILE RACE…MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY, 1998
Finishes 12th after starting 24th–was the highest finishing rookie in the race.

FIRST MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SEASON…2001
Castroneves earns $2,128,325 in total 2001 prize money buoyed primarily by his victory in the Indianapolis 500.

Wins

Castroneves has 30 wins since joining Team Penske in 2000 including back-to-back Indianapolis 500 victories in 2001, 2002 & his third in 2009. His win total ranks 12th all-time among INDYCAR drivers.

Pole Positions

Castroneves has started from the first position 50 times in his 20-year INDYCAR Series career which ranks third all-time.

* Qualifying rained out; started grid based on practice times (credited as pole)