Catchfence

South Florida’s IndyCar stars take to “home track” as co-Grand Marshals,
will deliver command from in-car for Saturday’s Cafes do Brasil Indy 300

MIAMI—One has raced his way to three Indianapolis 500 titles—as well as danced to the Mirror Ball Trophy for winning ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” The other fought his way to the 2004 IndyCar Championship—and also has displayed some dancing moves of his own on IndyCar TV commercials. And this Saturday, South Florida residents Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan together will put a twist on the traditional Grand Marshal command from inside their race cars in kicking off the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Championship finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“Drivers, start our engines!” will be the Miami spin on the most famous words in racing for Saturday’s IZOD IndyCar Championship, as Homestead-Miami Speedway today announced that IndyCar stars Castroneves and Kanaan will serve as co-Grand Marshals for the Cafés Do Brasil Indy 300. The longtime South Floridians will deliver the command from their respective cars while on the starting grid for IndyCar’s 2010 Championship finale. Pre-race ceremonies will begin at 6 p.m., with the green flag scheduled to fall at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Championship start at $30, and all kids 12 and under are admitted FREE of charge to general-admission areas.

“There isn’t a better fit for the Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 Grand Marshal role than a tag-team of Helio and Tony—IndyCar stars who represent South Florida with class, integrity and certainly success on the track.,” said Matt Becherer, president of Homestead-Miami Speedway. “We’re honored they have accepted our invitation for Saturday’s IndyCar Championship, and we’re so gracious to both for all they have done to promote first-class racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway. To deliver the command for Saturday’s Championship is a sincere thank you to a couple of IndyCar’s best while racing on their home track of Homestead-Miami Speedway.”

With just a 12-point margin separating the Top 2 contenders in the IndyCar standings, the 2010 title comes down to Saturday’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Tickets start at $30 for Saturday’s Cafes do Brasil Indy 300—headlining the NextEra Energy Indy Championships—and all kids 12 and under are admitted FREE of charge in general-admission areas. In addition, parking is FREE and guests are invited to bring in their own food and drink in a 6x6x12 cooler, as well as to restock throughout the day/evening with an unlimited re-entry policy. For tickets and more information, please visit

Kids FREE: Homestead-Miami Speedway is the only venue ever to host all of North America’s premier motorsports Championships, and we’re doing it again in 2010 in hosting both the NextEra Energy Indy Championships (Oct. 1-2) and NASCAR’s Ford Championship Weekend (Nov. 19-21). Kids 12 & under are FREE to three of the five Championship finales, and the best seats to see the Champions crowned are ON SALE NOW. For more information, visit THEChampionshipTrack.com or call (866) 409-RACE.

- Homestead-Miami Speedway, Press Release