Helio Castroneves, who teamed up with professional partner Julianne Hough in 2007 to win “Dancing With the Stars,” will be paired with Chelsie Hightower for “Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars” this fall.
The season premiere is Sept. 24 (8 p.m. ET) on ABC -- nine days following the IZOD IndyCar Series season finale at Auto Club Speedway.
Hightower is a six-year veteran of the show, having previously danced with celebrity partners Roshon Fegan, Romeo, Michael Bolton, Jake Pavelka, Louie Vito and Ty Murray. In 2006, she was a finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance.”
“We’re all pumped up for another opportunity to start dancing again," said Castroneves, who enters the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma on Aug. 26 third in the series championship standings. "What a great thing to show my daughter (2½-year-old Mikaella) what Dad did five years ago and hopefully can do again."
Celebrating in Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka 19th Hole Victory Lane
The IZOD IndyCar Series race winner at Auto Club Speedway on Sept. 15 will celebrate in Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka 19th Hole Victory Lane. GET TICKETS
“We’re looking forward to teeing it up one last time this year with the IZOD IndyCar Series at Auto Club Speedway. It’s been a great year and now we’re ready to finish the round and head for the 19th Hole,” said Fuzzy Zoeller, creator of Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka, the Official Vodka of the IZOD IndyCar Series and primary sponsor on the No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing car.
“It’s going to be an outstanding race and Fuzzy’s is looking forward to celebrating with the winner, preferably the No. 20 of Ed Carpenter, in the Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka 19th Hole Victory Lane.”
Fund-raiser planned for Bill Stewart
The public is invited to the "Grant a Bucket Wish List" fund-raiser and dinner at 7 p.m. (ET) Aug. 18 at St. Joseph Catholic Church (1375 Mickley Ave., Indianapolis) in honor of Bill Stewart.
Stewart, a longtime Indy car engineer, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in June. The evening includes silent and live auctions.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Paul Diatlovich (317-694-6258; pdmracing@sbcglobal.net) or Erin Mullen (317-714-6632; erinmullen1@yahoo.com).
Indy 500 veteran Grant dies
Jerry Grant, a 10-time competitor in the Indianapolis 500 and the first person to turn an official lap faster than 200 mph in an Indy car, died Aug. 12. He was 77.
Grant, a prominent American road racer, turned his historic 201.414 mph lap in 1972 at Ontario, Calif.
Of note
Sebastien Bourdais co-drove a Starworks Motorsports Daytona Prototype to second overall in the GRAND-AM race at Watkins Glen International. Bourdais, who drives for Dragon Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series, shared time behind the wheel with Alex Popow. Two weeks earlier, they won the race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. … Beccy Gordon, wife of Andretti Autosport driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, competed in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb over the weekend in an electric car (sixth in category; 126th overall). … Jimmy Vasser Chevrolet, located in Napa, Calif., announced it will enter a Chevrolet COPO Camaro in the NHRA Factory Stock Showdown at the 2012 Mac Tools U. S. Nationals presented by Auto-Plus at Lucas Oil Raceway (Aug. 29-Sept. 3).