SONOMA, Calif. -- Helio Castroneves knows how to win.
Two of his 12 career victories have come in the Indianapolis 500, and just about everyone -- including a lot of people who wouldn't know an IndyCar from a pickup truck -- is aware that Castroneves won the 2007 Dancing with the Stars competition.
But, somehow, a series championship has eluded the personable Brazilian.
Now, heading into Sunday's IndyCar Series race at Infineon Raceway -- despite being second in the points with three races remaining -- Castroneves' chances of winning the big trophy in 2008 have to be considered a long shot.
This has probably been the most frustrating season since Castroneves became a full-time driver in the old CART series in 1998. While Scott Dixon, the 2003 IndyCar champion, has won six races and done just about everything right, Castroneves has chalked up seven runner-up finishes without a victory and trails by 78 points.
If Dixon wins Sunday and Castroneves finishes ninth or worse, the championship battle will be over.
But Castroneves isn't conceding anything.
"We have a lot of points (left) in the game," Castroneves said Friday. "We know what we need to do. I think they have more to lose than us. ... We're going to be fighting.
"If there is one point (between us), even (if) at sometimes (it) looks impossible -- and right now it's not even close -- we're going to have the faith. We're going to continue working."
Fate tossed another hurdle in his path Wednesday when one of the Team Penske trucks -- the one carrying the primary cars for Castroneves and teammate Ryan Briscoe -- caught fire on a highway somewhere in the wilds of Wyoming. The cars were damaged by water and smoke, and quite a bit of equipment was too badly damaged to use.
Still, driving a backup car that was quickly put into racing shape, Castroneves was second in the opening practice Friday and led in the second session.
"I told the guy my setup was on fire," Castroneves said, laughing. "Joking aside, the good news is nobody got hurt and things can definitely be replaced.
"We're trying to put that behind," he added. "But, when you go back to the truck, it's hard to forget. A lot of our tools that we would be able to use here are gone. The good news is Team Penske is always prepared. We already had a truck that came from Charlotte, stuff that we'll be able to use now."
NYG_Babe28 
