Today’s IZOD IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy headlines:
1. Castroneves takes win at Montoya’s karting event
2. Kanaan teams to win karting event
3. Franchitti presents at Autosport Awards
1. Castroneves takes win at Montoya’s karting event: Winning the race was great, but knowing that the Race of Stars karting event in Medellin, Colombia, last weekend would benefit children was paramount to Helio Castroneves.
The IZOD IndyCar Series championship runner-up won the night race of Team Penske teammate Juan Pablo Montoya’s annual event that benefits the Formula Smiles Foundation. The organization, which seeks to improve the quality of life of children in Colombia, was founded in 2003 by Montoya and his wife Connie.
Carlos Munoz, Gabby Chaves, Sebastian Saavedra and Gustavo Yacaman also competed.
Chaves placed third in the night race, followed by Montoya, who was racing in Team Penske colors for the first time. GP2 Series racer Julian Leal won the first race ahead of Montoya, Munoz and Chaves.
2. Kanaan teams to win karting event: Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Tony Kanaan teamed with Rubens Barrichello, Felipe Giaffone, Rafael Suzuki and Gaetano di Mauro to win the 500 Milhas de Beto Carrero in Brazil last weekend.
It’s the ninth win overall for Kanaan and Barrichello in the event, which was formerly known as the Granja Viana 500.
“Two 500 miles races in a year, that’s pretty good,” Kanaan said after revealing his image on the Borg-Warner Trophy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“That go-kart race is always a tradition for us, but for the last five years we didn’t win. This was the 17th time they’ve had the race and we’ve won nine, so that’s not so bad. It was a special moment. All of our kids were there, so we all went to the podium.”
3. Franchitti presents at Autosport Awards: Four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti presented John Surtees with a Gregor Grant Award for lifetime achievement during the annual Autosport Awards in London on Dec. 1.
Surtees is the only person to have won world champions on two and four wheels. He won multiple titles in 500cc competition in the 1950s before moving to Formula One, where he won the 1964 World Championship with Ferrari.
Franchitti told Autosport that he would like to remain involved in a team role with Target Chip Ganassi Racing.
Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel won the International Racing Driver of the Year award — the category that IZOD IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon also was a nominee. Lewis Hamilton won the British Competition Driver of the Year award – the category that Justin Wilson was a nominee.
