http://youtube.com/watch?v=
5ArnQUTFPxA[/youtube]
With a failed attempt to become the fourth four-time Indianapolis 500 winner in his proverbial rear view mirror, Helio Castroneves is looking forward to tonight’s Firestone 550K at Texas Motor Speedway (8 p.m. ET, Versus).
In the Chicago Tribune’s ‘Players Only’ blog, the Team Penske driver touches on his run at Indy and his costly stall on pit road that effectively ruined his chances of winning another ‘500’. But while he writes that he’s still mad at himself for the mistake, he also says that shaking off a bad race like Indy is difficult but essential in order to keep morale high for both driver and team.
Here’s an excerpt that focuses on the subject:
“One of the most difficult things about racing is that drivers and teams have to learn to deal with defeat and move ahead with confidence, even if their last result wasn’t what they wanted. Even the best racers in their best seasons only win about 20 percent of their races, so recovering and continuing with consistency is a key part of it. Just as we did at Indy, we have to let go of the bad and focus on what’s in front of us.”
We’ll see if Castroneves can bounce back tonight and successfully defend his Texas race title (see above for the highlight reel). He’ll start fifth, on the inside of Row 3 alongside rookie Alex Lloyd.
Thanks to RACER Magazine’s Jeff Olson for the heads-up on this piece.
