Autos: Castroneves earns record $3 million with Indy win
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS � Helio Castroneves has earned a record $3,048,005 for his third Indianapolis 500 victory.
The prize money from Sunday�s race was announced at the annual victory dinner Monday night, and Castroneves� share for Team Penske broke the former record of $2.99 million to Ganassi Racing�s Scott Dixon last year. The total purse of $14.3 million was just short of the record $14.4 million last year.
Runner-up Dan Wheldon received $1.26 million, just under the second-place record $1.27 million to Vitor Meira a year ago. Danica Patrick took home $763,305 for third place and Townsend Bell received $445,305 for fourth.
The $3 million first prize, the largest in auto racing history, boosted Castroneves� career winnings in nine races at Indianapolis to a record $8,663,628.