Castroneves' whirlwind weekend ends in style at Long Beach

Always quick to flash a smile, Helio Castroneves was especially happy to be back in the driver's seat Sunday. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Helio Castroneves admits this past weekend was all a blur.

It began with his acquittal on federal income tax evasion charges Friday afternoon. What followed was a flight from Miami to Long Beach, where Castroneves was up at 4 a.m. Saturday, and back in his IndyCar later that morning.

Despite spinning and crashing in the semifinal round of IndyCar's unique knockout qualifying process, Castroneves started eighth on Sunday and finished seventh in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Though, mentally and emotionally exhausted from his six-month legal ordeal, Castroneves couldn't stop smiling. As he spoke to a group of reporters after the race, David Garvin, the Miami attorney who was instrumental in Castroneves' acquittal, stood a few feet away, sporting a proud smile of his own.

"It has been a blur for me, too," Garvin said of the last three days. "From start to finish. But it was completely worth it. The last seven weeks were the most stressful. But in the end, the right things fell into place and justice was served. Helio never lost his faith in the system, and came out on top where he belongs."

Garvin was stunned to see his client make such a rapid return to the race car after a six-month layoff.

"It's shocking," Garvin said. "During the year, we got permission to let him go to Australia and [race last] October. We had faith putting him on the track today was not a dangerous situation -- that he would be up to the task. But what he's gone through the last seven weeks, no human should have to go through. When he got into first place today, it was like a dream come true."

Castroneves did not realize Garvin was standing behind him when he finished a television interview. When he turned around, the Brazilian's smile grew even bigger. "I didn't even know you were here," he said.

Garvin replied, "Where else would I be?"

"Thank you so much," Castroneves said.

Despite the legal victory, Castroneves has endured a financial burden because of his legal fees.

"The people that review the cases and give approval have to take into consideration not only the emotional strain but the financial strain," Garvin said. "Even if you win there is no system for reimbursements. And most people can't afford to defend themselves in an adequate fashion."

As a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Castroneves had the financial means to get the best legal defense. But the ordeal has scarred him.

"I think it will sink in when I go back home," he said. "The first reaction [when the trial ended] was I just wanted to come to Long Beach and see all my friends, colleagues and you guys. I want to be talking here -- you know me, I like to talk. But for six month, I was not able to talk. That was a lot of torture. I don't think I'll ever forget. That scar is going to make me appreciate things I never appreciated in the past."

Castroneves enjoyed tremendous support from the racing community, and not just by the fact that he was back in a car so quickly.

"We won one of the biggest races we've ever had to get Helio back in this car," said Roger Penske, the winningest team owner in Indianapolis 500 history. "We've stayed together as a team for many months. We talked about this when it started and stayed in touch during this ordeal. To see him walk out and get in the No. 3 car is amazing."

It was an emotional weekend for Castroneves, who is an emotional guy to begin with. Eventually, the emotions were too much to control, and they bubbled over when he spoke at the formal press conference for the first time on Saturday.

"It feels like I just woke up from a nightmare," Castroneves said as he broke down and cried. "Everybody knows I'm a pretty emotional guy. So many people sent messages and sent prayers through the internet to my website. I never lost faith. Sometimes I've questioned it, but those prayers people were sending me kept me really strong and focused. Without the prayers, it would have been hard to go through. The guy upstairs will not let me down and he did not let me down.

With that, Castroneves said it's time to turn the page, but not before dropping one more detail: He's ready to write a book.

Hopefully that book won't be about financial advice.