Victory Road: The Ride of My Life [Hardcover]

Helio Castroneves (Author), Roger Penske (Foreword)

Book Description

Release date: June 1, 2010

The Indianapolis 500 champion and winner of season five's Dancing with the Stars shares his heartfelt story about determination, family, justice, and beating all odds to win.

With his signature victory celebration of climbing the fence after taking the checkered flag and his radiant performances that earned him the coveted crystal ball trophy on Dancing with the Stars, Helio's infectious enthusiasm garnered the admiration of millions of fans-both on and off the track. Therefore no one, including him, could have predicted that one day he would sit in a federal court along with his sister/manager facing 10 years in jail. After his grueling trial-where justice prevailed and charges were dropped-Helio learned more than ever before about his family, true friends, faith, and the road to victory. In this book, Helio Castroneves tells his resilient story about his greatest accomplishments, most devastating experiences, becoming a father, and valuing what is truly important in life.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Celebra Hardcover (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451227379
• ISBN-13: 978-0451227379
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #709,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book by a great driver. June 3, 2010

By michael bragg

Format:Hardcover

This is a must-have book for any Helio Castroneves or Indycar fan. Helio tells his story about how he got into racing and the struggles he and his family faced in helping him get to the top. He also describes his joy at winning the "DAncing With the Stars" title and the birth of his daughter plus the hardship of being indicted by the Feds for tax evasion, along with his sister and lawyer and the triumph of being found not guilty on all counts. There are also some great photos of him throughout his career. I bought my copy at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the race weekend and I'm glad I did. For a great read, buy this book!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating, fast paced book about both driving and the business of racing. July 12, 2010

By Michael Bloch

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an excellent book. Not only can Helio drive and dance, he has come out with a fascinating book about his racing career. Starting with karts in Brazil, he talks about how he got started in racing and the difficulties of making it to where he is today. How his father, sister and family members took financial risks, worked hard and refused to give up when things looked bleak. Reading this book will not only teach you about how Helio learned to drive fast and build confidence, you'll learn about mental preparation and the business side of racing, too. You will also enjoy a fascinating look at the difficulties securing sponsors, dealing with team owners and managers, living in parts of the world where you don't speak the language. Helio's true personality comes alive, page by page. If you are a racing enthusiast and want to know what it takes to go from a young kid with a dream to one of the best drivers in the world, read this book. It will give you a real appreciation for the hard work, difficulties and perseverance it takes to make it to the top of this great sport. Once you start reading it you will have a difficult time putting it down. Great job Helio! May there be many more fences for you to climb.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars commitment July 15, 2010

By Tracker

Format:Hardcover

This isn't just, as one reviewer stated, a must for every racing fan. It is far more then that.It is a fascinating and revealing glimpse of the one-dimensional commitment required to succeed in almost any field. Helio, if he is truly the sole author, has revealed his family and himself in more detail then he probably intended and the text and content has the flavor and "English as a second language" gait that almost allows you to hear Helio speaking the words.A great book, period, written buy a person who reveals some fascinating things about family and the financial realities of modern professional racing. Probably the best autobiography of a sports figure I have ever read.-Wade-Oxford,Md.