Helio's Going "Dancing" Again

About five years ago, some laughed at the thought of an INDYCAR driver on Dancing with the Stars. When Helio Castroneves joined the cast for the fifth season of the dance competition show, a lot of fans tuned in just to see how he would do. Who knew that the popular Indianapolis 500 champion wouldn’t just be able to dance, but be able to dance well? And it would get him further in the competition than some expected?

To some DWTS fans at first, he was nobody. Most the people who had heard of Helio and knew who he was were racing fans, even some casual ones who mostly remembered him because he climbs the fence in celebration of every race victory. These people were the ones voting for him before the season even began. His other “for-sure” voters were fans of Hough, who’d won in the spring with Olympic speed skater, Apolo Anton Ohno.

From the first foxtrot with professional partner, Julianne Hough, to his memorable quickstep inspired by The Mask (if you haven’t seen it; go Google it), Helio captured the hearts of fans watching at home and quickly built a fan base. Not only was his big, bright smile a factor but, for a racecar driver who’d never danced before, he was pretty good at it. Good enough to make it to the finals. And good enough to win the competion over Spice Girl, Mel B.

Many remember what has happened in the years following Helio’s win – his championship battle with Scott Dixon in 2008; his tax evasion trial and third Indy 500 victory in 2009; him publishing his autobiography, winning a few races, along with his meltdown at Edmonton in 2010; his horrendous and winless 2011 season.

Helio’s also had a few changes in his personal life. He split with his fiancé during his stint on DWTS and is now in a relationship with his girlfriend, Adriana Henao, who is also the mother of their two year old daughter, Mikaella.

Life has changed on and off the track for the Brazilian since he won the coveted mirror ball trophy, a trophy that he said looked good between the pair of Baby Borgs he’d won at Indy in 2001 and 2002. Now that he won three, the display is probably a little lopsided meaning that the trophy for winning for Dancing with the Stars: All Stars would make that trophy display look more even.

Yes. Dancing with the Stars: All Stars. Helio was recently announced as a part of the cast. While some were a little annoyed that past winners were a part of the cast or that he was chosen over Mel B. (who, like some on fans’ “all-star wish lists,” had other commitments that prevented them from participating), other were pleased with his selection.

I, for one, was surprised because I’d originally heard that past winners weren’t being invited back. But I have already figured out how I’ll spend my Monday and Tuesday nights starting September 24th (I’ll be doing schoolwork while watching) until finale night or the night he gets voted off (hopefully it’ll be the former again).

With that news out of the way, I just wanted to say that Randy Bernard will, hopefully, regardless where Helio finishes this season, make certain that INDYCAR is the only racing series in the world that has produced the ONLY driver who gone on a dancing competition, danced really well (Google his dances; he was pretty good especially that quickstep), won, and was even invited back as an “all-star.”

I really do think that this can be a good way to promote INDYCAR especially going into the off-season. Yes. The sport was in mentioned in the headlines long after the season finale last season but it was for very sad reasons. Helio dancing again would produce some headlines after the September 15th finale at Fontana but it would be a non-racing story but the sport is still mentioned. Personally, I’d rather see someone with INDYCAR mentioned in the news for something like this than for something like what happened at the end of last season or for possibly breaking the law.

Helio will be joined by 12 other “all stars.” Including the season 5 champion, the cast consists of six winners, three runner-up finishers, two third place finishers, and a sixth place finisher. The other 11 confirmed cast members (and their dance partners) are:

Kelly Monaco (Season 1) and Val Chmerkoviskiy

Drew Lachey (Season 2) and Anna Trebunskaya

Emmitt Smith (Season 3) and Cheryl Burke

Apolo Anton Ohno (Season 4) and Karina Smirnoff

Joey Fatone (Season 4) and Kym Johnson

Shawn Johnson (Season 8) and Derek Hough

Gilles Marini (Season 8) and Peta Murgatroyd

Melissa Rycroft (Season 8) and Tony Dovolani

Pamela Anderson (Season 10) and Tristan McManus

Bristol Palin (Season 11) and Mark Ballas

Kirstie Alley (Season 12) and Maksim Chmerkoviskiy

The 13th cast member is currently being voted on DWTS fans and will be revealed at a later date (along with their dance partner). The three potential cast members are:

Sabrina Bryan (Season 5)

Kyle Massey (Season 11)

Carson Kressley (Season 13)

My thought on the “all stars” chosen – it’s a pretty talented group (though I’m unsure how two of the contestants are considered stars but I won't go into that). While it will be a little bit tougher this time, there is that chance that the fans came come through this again. It was revealed earlier this week that Helio will be paired with Chelsie Hightower this season. While Chelsie is no Julianne Hough and doesn’t have a mirror ball trophy (her best finish was 4th in Season 8 with Ty Murray) yet but with Helio, it’s possible that she can win her first trophy.

But they can’t do it alone. They’ll need the votes especially against some of the heavy hitters this season. So once the INDYCAR season ends, get ready and vote for “Team Chelio” (the currently unofficial name for Helio and Chelsie this season). And don’t forget to recruit other racing fans and your family and friends too.