Helio Castroneves Makes Promised House Call After Indy 500 Victory

Helio Castroneves made a promise to take a lap around a North New Jersey Street if he won the Indianapolis 500, and win the Indy 500 he did. So he indeed followed through in Jersey.

“I told them, ‘Look, if I win the race, I’ll come here and celebrate with you guys,’” Castroneves told reporters. “When you said it, you gotta mean it. You gotta make it happen. Because I felt very special, I felt very touched by those guys, the neighborhood, and I said, ‘Well, that’ll be a lot of fun if I win.’”

It all started a week before the race, when a decoration on the home of the Terzini family along the street caught Castroneves' eye during the Indy 500 "reverse parade." The Terzinis had entered their decor into the parade contest, which took place in lieu of the usual 500 Festival.

“What they did it’s a ... I’ve never seen anything like it. Having the mannequin climb the fence, a mini Hélio or mannequin Hélio climbing the fence, celebrating a win,” Castroneves said. “So I said, ‘I’m gonna come here and celebrate if we win.’”

This led to some serious nerves and excitement for the Terzinis during the actual race.

“We were getting down 20 laps to go, 15 laps to go, 10 laps to go, and we’re like looking at each other, all my friends and everything, and we’re like, 'Is this gonna happen? Is this gonna happen?'” Jameson Terzini said. “We were kinda looking at each other in the stands, and ugh, just everybody, 'Is this gonna happen? Is this gonna happen?' Five laps to go, we’re like, 'This is gonna happen.'"

Of course, the family wasn't sure Castroneves would actually follow through with -- or even remember -- his promise. Those fears were erased when he placed a Monday morning phone call. He was coming, he said.

“He’s a man of his word, he’s a man of his word,” Terzini said. “He didn’t owe us anything. We thought it was fantastic enough that we were able to have him at our home to begin with, but then the follow up, and man, I don’t know. It’s just amazing right now.”

Needless to say, Castroneves arrived on the street to loud cheers and applause.

“Thank you, friends, for the all excitement for helping this guy put this house, this beautiful house together. Now, we’re four-time winners,” Castroneves told the crowd. “I said I would and I will because I am a man of my word. Guys, thank you so much, everyone. Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend, have fun. I lost my voice. You can imagine why.”