Castroneves shoots for 3rd win in a row for Penske

Helio Castroneves will attempt to make history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, where he'll look to claim his third-consecutive Indy 500 title when the 87th running of the Indy 500 takes place at 11 a.m. Sunday.\nNo other driver has won three straight Indy 500 races. In addition, he is one of only five drivers to win consecutive Indy 500 races. Castroneves, who drives the No. 3 Marlboro car, earned the pole after recording a speed of 231.725 mph May 11. It marked the first time a defending Indy 500 winner won the pole since Emerson Fittipaldi captured the top spot in 1990 for Penske Racing. \nCastroneves said he was elated after grabbing the pole. \n"This is one of the best days of my life," Castroneves said. "It's fantastic. It's a dream come true. That guy upstairs made it happen, trust me. I didn't know I had that fast of a car. I knew it would turn the speeds but not for four laps. All of a sudden, I think the cold weather helped the tires. Oh my God, I'm just so happy."\nTony Kanaan qualified in the second position, while Robby Gordon earned the third spot in the 33-car field. \nLast year's IRL Series champion, Sam Hornish Jr., earned the 18th position in what is the deepest field since the IRL split with CART in 1995. \nHe described what it takes to win at Indy and the good fortune a driver has to have.\n"Honestly, the thing about it is that you have to have a very consistent race car to win this race," Hornish Jr. said. "You don't have to have the fastest car, because you can be the fastest car all day long, and you have a bad pit stop, and you go back to 10th, you can't pass anybody, (and) your day is done. So what we're looking to do for Race Day is have a very consistent car, get behind somebody that's fast and can pass, stay there all day long and try to trick them at the end." \nSo far this year, Scott Dixon, Kanaan and Scott Sharp have won in the IRL series. Sharp has recorded 106 points this season, while Kanaan has earned 102. Meanwhile, Castroneves has tallied 83 points in three races this year.\nTwo-time Indy winner Arie Luyendyk does not have medical clearance to drive in the race after crashing during practice May 9. Alex Barron, in the No. 20 car, replaced Luyendyk and qualified on Bump Day.\nMichael Andretti, who has led in nearly 400 laps in 13 races at Indy, the most of any driver without a victory, will retire as a driver following Sunday's race. His No. 7 car is starting in the 13th spot. Crowd favorite Al Unser Jr. is a few spots back in the 17th position.\nIndiana native Sarah Fisher, the lone female to qualify this year, will start 24th in the No. 23 car. Fisher detailed what it was like on Bump Day at the track May 18.\n"I'm so relieved this day is over," Fisher said. "It's been one of the longest in my life, kind of like the last day of school before summer vacation. It's a big load off my mind to not have to worry anymore about getting bumped and to just focus on the Indianapolis 500." \nWhile Fisher will attempt to accomplish a feat no other woman at Indy has imagined, a confident Castroneves eyes a much bigger prize: a three-peat at the Indy 500. \n"As I keep saying, I'm going to enjoy this moment because motor racing, you never know what's going to happen," Castroneves said. "And, for sure, it's been very fortunate to come over here in Indianapolis and be very successful. And right now I'm doing exactly what I did the last two years. Everybody's really committed to do our best. And, again, it's been wonderful so far. It's obvious the field is very competitive, very tight. As Roger (Penske) said, we do have a chance, we have two fast cars, and we just have to keep focused on our job. Whatever happens hopefully happens in a good way"