W
Ward Burton
Guest
Will his fast footwork on the racetrack translate to the dance floor? Can Helio Castroneves Cha Cha to the championship?
Those questions – and many more – will be answered starting Sept. 24 when the IndyCar Series driver joins the 12-member cast for the fifth season of the Emmy-nominated "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC.
The 32-year-old Miami resident will be paired with Julianne Hough, who won the fourth season competition with Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno. In fact, athletes have taken home the mirror ball trophy the past two years, so Castroneves could have a leg up on some of the participants.
Gearing up for the competition won't be an issue for the two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, who has two races remaining in the season.
"I'm really excited for this opportunity," Castroneves said. "It's definitely something that I never would have imagined participating in. However, now that I know that I'm going to be part of the competition, I've set my sights on winning.
"I know it's going to be a lot of hard work, but with our IndyCar Series season coming to a close, I'm going to dedicate the same energy that I bring to racing to rehearsing for the show. I know I have a lot to learn, but I've been told that Julianne is one of the best teachers out there, and I'm ready to get to work. Having won back-to-back Indianapolis 500s, I would like nothing more than to give Julianne back-to-back 'Dancing with the Stars' titles."
"Dancing with the Stars" kicks off with a 90-minute performance episode at 8 p.m. (ET) Sept. 24 featuring the female celebrities. Castroneves and the other male stars will showcase their moves Sept. 25 (8-9:30 p.m. ET). One couple's fate will be determined Sept. 26.
The diverse cast – the largest in the five years -- also includes actors Jennie Garth, Jane Seymour and Cameron Mathison ("All My Children"); models Josie Maran and Albert Reed; boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban; and singers Melanie Brown ("Scary Spice" of the Spice Girls), Marie Osmond, Wayne Newton and Sabrina Bryan (Cheetah Girls).
The celebrities and their dance partners perform choreographed routines, which will be judged by a dancing/choreography panel. Judges' scores based on several factors (i.e. technical execution) alone do not decide a couple's fate. Phone lines and online polling will be open for each performance show so viewers can vote for their favorites. The following night, in the "results show," the couple with the lowest combined score from the judges and viewers will be eliminated from competition. Scoring is divided equally between judges and viewers' voting.
"We couldn't be happier for Helio, who heads the list as one of racing's most exuberant personalities on and off the track," said Terry Angstadt, president for the Indy Racing League's commercial division. "Helio's participation in ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars' will give him the opportunity to showcase his trademark charm and passion to a huge audience. This is fantastic for the Indy Racing League, Team Penske and Helio."
Castroneves, who is engaged to be married, said at the least he'll learn a few steps for the wedding reception.
"If I might not be able to do so well, I'm sure I'll learn at least waltz. When I get married, I'll try to use that one," said Castroneves, who has begun preparations with Hough. "I'm just going to go have fun, enjoy it. I'm having already a lot of fun. I'm discovering already a lot of muscles that I didn't know exist in my body."
Check back on indycar.com in three weeks for links to voting, video clips and more as Castroneves waltzes to the title.
Those questions – and many more – will be answered starting Sept. 24 when the IndyCar Series driver joins the 12-member cast for the fifth season of the Emmy-nominated "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC.
The 32-year-old Miami resident will be paired with Julianne Hough, who won the fourth season competition with Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno. In fact, athletes have taken home the mirror ball trophy the past two years, so Castroneves could have a leg up on some of the participants.
Gearing up for the competition won't be an issue for the two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, who has two races remaining in the season.
"I'm really excited for this opportunity," Castroneves said. "It's definitely something that I never would have imagined participating in. However, now that I know that I'm going to be part of the competition, I've set my sights on winning.
"I know it's going to be a lot of hard work, but with our IndyCar Series season coming to a close, I'm going to dedicate the same energy that I bring to racing to rehearsing for the show. I know I have a lot to learn, but I've been told that Julianne is one of the best teachers out there, and I'm ready to get to work. Having won back-to-back Indianapolis 500s, I would like nothing more than to give Julianne back-to-back 'Dancing with the Stars' titles."
"Dancing with the Stars" kicks off with a 90-minute performance episode at 8 p.m. (ET) Sept. 24 featuring the female celebrities. Castroneves and the other male stars will showcase their moves Sept. 25 (8-9:30 p.m. ET). One couple's fate will be determined Sept. 26.
The diverse cast – the largest in the five years -- also includes actors Jennie Garth, Jane Seymour and Cameron Mathison ("All My Children"); models Josie Maran and Albert Reed; boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban; and singers Melanie Brown ("Scary Spice" of the Spice Girls), Marie Osmond, Wayne Newton and Sabrina Bryan (Cheetah Girls).
The celebrities and their dance partners perform choreographed routines, which will be judged by a dancing/choreography panel. Judges' scores based on several factors (i.e. technical execution) alone do not decide a couple's fate. Phone lines and online polling will be open for each performance show so viewers can vote for their favorites. The following night, in the "results show," the couple with the lowest combined score from the judges and viewers will be eliminated from competition. Scoring is divided equally between judges and viewers' voting.
"We couldn't be happier for Helio, who heads the list as one of racing's most exuberant personalities on and off the track," said Terry Angstadt, president for the Indy Racing League's commercial division. "Helio's participation in ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars' will give him the opportunity to showcase his trademark charm and passion to a huge audience. This is fantastic for the Indy Racing League, Team Penske and Helio."
Castroneves, who is engaged to be married, said at the least he'll learn a few steps for the wedding reception.
"If I might not be able to do so well, I'm sure I'll learn at least waltz. When I get married, I'll try to use that one," said Castroneves, who has begun preparations with Hough. "I'm just going to go have fun, enjoy it. I'm having already a lot of fun. I'm discovering already a lot of muscles that I didn't know exist in my body."
Check back on indycar.com in three weeks for links to voting, video clips and more as Castroneves waltzes to the title.
