Helio Castroneves has been announced as one of the 2022 Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees at a conference held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The newly-crowned four-time champion of the illustrious Indy 500 will be given the honor alongside eight other racing figures from across the spectrum of motorsports.
“Many of the members of the Motorsports Hall of Fame are people that I grew up idolizing and to now be invited to join this group, I just can’t believe it,” Castroneves said at the event.
“I’m so honored to have the opportunity to be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame and I feel so lucky to be included with these legends.”
“Over my career, I’ve been watching so many inductees, seeing the amazing event, especially when I was doing the sports car program as well.
“I can only imagine, I was just dreaming one day if I would be able to make it. That’s just proof that dreams come true.
“People ask me if you feel like a legend. I say, ‘No, I feel as I’m a blessed person among such an incredible group.’
“It’s an honor to be here. It’s an honor to be representing IndyCar. It’s an honor to be a four-time Indy 500 champ.”
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is the only hall in the United States that honors people from the entire racing world, and is one of the more coveted awards.
Castroneves is one of very few people inducted in the first year of eligibility, with the vote being decided by 100 experts in the field and 100 previous inductees.
In addition, the honor was decided before the 46-year-old took his record-equaling victory in May, with the win solidifying the committee’s decision.
Attendees of the announcement included Roger Penske, Doug Boles, and Robin Miller, who was a 2021 inductee himself.
The official induction ceremony will take place at Daytona Beach, Florida in March of 2022.
