CASTRONEVES USES RECORD-SETTING VICTORY TO REMAIN IN CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT

SONOMA, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008 – Helio Castroneves snapped the longest winless streak of his career to move closer to his first IndyCar Series championship.

Castroneves, who hadn’t won since April 2007 – a span of 30 races, took the checkered flag in the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County at Infineon Raceway to claim a victory in a record-setting eighth consecutive season. The 13th win of his IndyCar Series career allowed Castroneves to shave 35 points from his deficit in the championship standings. He trails Scott Dixon, who finished 12th, by 43 points with two races remaining.

Castroneves led 51 of 80 laps after starting from the pole and beat his teammate, Ryan Briscoe, to the finish line by 5.2926 seconds.

The 1-2 finish by Team Penske was especially meaningful to the team, which saw its two primary cars damaged by fire earlier in the week.

Andretti Green Racing’s Tony Kanaan finished third, Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Dan Wheldon was fourth and AGR’s Danica Patrick was fifth.

Also on Aug. 24, Pablo Donoso earned his first career Firestone Indy Lights victory, winning the Valley of the Moon 100 by 2.0601 seconds over Logan Gomez. Raphael Matos finished sixth, extending his points lead to three over Richard Antinucci, who finished seventh. The season finale is Sept. 7 at Chicagoland Speedway.