HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Walking around Homestead-Miami Speedway on Tuesday, Helio Castroneves stopped to notice some new construction near the track.
New to him, anyway.
"They said it was there since the spring," Castroneves said. "You know, I had a little trial going on back then."
He can laugh about it now - at times. It's been almost four months since Castroneves was acquitted on charges that he evaded paying US$2.3 million in federal income taxes, charges that could have put the IndyCar driver in prison for six years.
Another charge, for conspiring to evade taxes, was dropped May 22. Two days later, he won the Indianapolis 500 for the third time.
With that, everything might have seemed right in Castroneves' world. But even now, the native Brazilian who's called South Florida home since 1997 insists the scandal still casts a pall over just about everything in his life.
He wonders if he'll ever feel like the scary chapter is completely closed.
"People on the outside, it might look normal," Castroneves said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But afterward, I started having gastric problems, things like that. The emotions, you don't know. On the outside, it might look like you're not hurt, but on the inside, there's so much stress and anxiety and things like that."
He paused for a moment, looking for the right words, and his voice dipped for a bit into a soft tone.
"The scar's already made," Castroneves said. "It just needs to heal now. I think it'll take a little time."
He's asked about the experience and the trial all the time, and doesn't mind answering those questions. His famed happy-go-lucky attitude - Castroneves greeted just about everyone at Homestead with a handshake Tuesday - can sometimes work as a cover. He scrutinizes his finances more closely than ever before, too.
Some reminders are more subtle. Not long ago, he was driving through downtown Miami and came to a red light. He quickly realized he was outside the federal courthouse where his fate was decided.
"I'm there thinking 'Green light, green light, please,"' Castroneves said. "I didn't even look left, right, nothing. Green light, I was gone. Didn't want to be there."
Still, it's not all bad these days for Castroneves. Not even close.
He had Homestead's track to himself Tuesday morning, just him and a row of sleek, powerful, expensive cars - such as an Aston Martin, Ferrari, Corvette and Porsche, all of which he test drove for Maxim Magazine's November "Dream Car" issue. Zipping down the straightaway at more than 150 mph, Castroneves flashed his lights at waiting cameramen, then smoked the Ferrari's tires at the finish line while grinning broadly.
"I'm happy they're able to use my knowledge from racing to describe what those cars can do," Castroneves said. "Pretty cool. Pretty amazing."
Four months ago, he was worried he wouldn't have that chance again.
"That's me. That's what makes me keep going out there," Castroneves said. "It made me sad. I would not do anything to jeopardize that. I cherish it too much."
With five races remaining in the IRL season, including this weekend's stop at Mid-Ohio, Castroneves sits fourth in the standings, 75 points behind leader Ryan Briscoe. Despite missing the season-opening race, Castroneves believes there's still time to make up the gap.
There's one factor in his favour - each of the last four Indy 500 winners went on to claim the IndyCar series championship.
"I can hope I'll be able to do that," Castroneves said. "We're certainly working for it. ... To show that I can miss a race and still win a championship. Now that, that would be awesome."
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