Brazil's Castroneves wins third Indianapolis 500 title

Brazilian Helio Castroneves won his third Indianapolis 500 title on Sunday, breaking into tears in the Winner's Circle after capping a nightmare month with a historic dream of a victory.

Castroneves, who also won at Indy in 2001 and 2002, climbed the fence around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in celebration of his victory, which came after he was found not guilty last month on federal tax evasion charges.

"This is incredible," Castroneves said, wiping away tears. "It feels so great to have my life back. I think my tears speak for everything."

Pole-sitter Castroneves, who has earned the nickname "Spiderman" for his Indy fence climb victory celebrations, led qualifying two weekends ago and saw the final conspiracy charge he faced dropped Friday by prosecutors.

England's Dan Wheldon finished second with American Danica Patrick third in the best Indy 500 finish by a woman.

But the moment belonged to Castroneves and the racing team of Roger Penske, who won a record 15th Indy 500 title.

"They gave my life back. I'm here today because of those guys," Castroneves said of Penske and his crew. "And the fans. Thank you so much. You gave me the strength."

Penske wrapped his arms around Castroneves and called it a "perfect day".

"His chance to get back in a race car was like winning the biggest race of his life and this really was the biggest race," Penske said.

Castroneves struggled with gearbox issues on pit stops but proved unbeatable over 200 laps on the famed 2 1/2-mile (4km) oval at the "Brickyard", which is celebrating a century since it opened as an auto industry test track.

Castroneves led off a restart with 17 laps remaining with Wheldon second and Patrick third. The Brazilian quickly opened a lead of 1.3 seconds and stretched it to 2.8 seconds over the final laps.

"Once I got in the front, it was never look back," Castroneves said. "What a day. This place is magical.

"Three. I can't believe it."

Only four-time winners A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser Snr have won more times at Indy than Castroneves, the first driver from beyond the US borders to win the race more than twice.

Wheldon could never threaten Castroneves in the final laps.

"We just didn't quite have it for him at the end," he said.

Patrick, the only woman to ever lead an Indy 500, stayed in contention to the end but settled for the first Indy 500 podium finish for a woman.

"I had a really good car for long runs," Patrick said. "My car really came to me. We were able to run flat the whole way around. I'm happy with it. I wish I had had a better shot at the win but what are you going to do?"

American Townsend Bell was fourth, followed in order by Australian Will Power, New Zealand's Scott Dixon, Scotsman Dario Franchitti, American Ed Carpenter, Canada's Paul Tracy and Japan's Hideki Mutoh.

Franchitti grabbed the Indy-car season points lead with 122, five more than Castroneves with Aussie Ryan Briscoe third on 114, Dixon on 111, Brazil's Tony Kanaan on 110, Patrick on 109, Wheldon seventh on 106 and Power eighth on 99.

Dixon, the 2008 Indy 500 winner, led off a restart on lap 142 but Castroneves went low in the first turn to pass him and grab the lead for good.

Power moved past Dixon into second on lap 157 and four laps later, England's Justin Wilson skidded into the first turn outer wall, closing the field to set up the final series of pit stops.

Castroneves returned to the track in the lead with 32 laps remaining and was on top when Brazilians Vitor Meira and Rafael Matos crashed into the outer wall of turn one with 25 laps remaining, setting up the final restart drama.

Rookie Matos walked away. Meira was taken off on a stretcher and hospitalized with lower back pain.

Franchitti, the 2007 Indy 500 winner and Indy-car champion, was foiled when a fuel nozzle was slow to disengage, dropping him from second to 10th.

Kanaan, the only racer to lead in his first seven Indy 500 starts, crashed out due to a mechanical failue midway into the race.

English driver Alex Lloyd's wife Samantha was having contractions during the race but managed to delay the birth of a baby daughter until after the finish.