MADISON, Illinois, 12 August 2003 — Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves ended a 20-race victory drought at the St. Louis 250 on Sunday, as Brazilian drivers took all three podium places.
Tony Kanaan and this year’s Indy 500 winner Gil de Ferran finished second and third.
Castroneves, known as “Spiderman” for his fence climbing victory celebrations started from pole position and led for a total race high 96 laps in the 200 lap, 250 mile race.
It was his first IRL win since last year’s Indy 500. “It’s better late than never,” said Castroneves who drove a Toyota powered Dallara.
“I never lost faith in my crew and they never lost faith in me. They always believed. I guess that’s the way it should be.
New Zealander Scott Dixon seemed to have the race sewn up when his gearbox failed with 43 laps remaining after he had built a six-second lead.
“It’s so hard to have a race like this end the way it did. We had a dominant race car out there,” he said. “After the last pit stop, I was just saving fuel and waiting for the end to really push it. We had a comfortable lead and then the gearbox went.”
Castroneves took over the lead and never looked back.
“Scott Dixon was very fast, but I cannot feel sorry for him, believe me,” a jubilant Castroneves said. “It’s happened to me many times.”
Kanaan regained the series lead with 357 points, followed by de Ferran with 350 and Castroneves 347.
Dixon fell all the way to fourth, 24 points behind the leader with five races remaining. “It was a good run for us,” Kanaan said. “I gave everything I had, but it wasn’t enough. But hey, the championship lead is back with us. That’s what we’re here for. We’re fighting for the championship.”
There were no serious accidents on the track, but a crewman for Al Unser Jr. was injured in a pit accident.
Left-rear tire changer Anton Julian was reported to be in fair condition in hospital after Brian Herta had slid into the rear of Unser’s car, which was on its hydraulic jacks being serviced on lap 40.
