HOUSTON (AP) — Helio Castroneves’ title hopes likely ended Sunday with a second consecutive mechanical failure at the Grand Prix of Houston.
The IndyCar Series points leader came to a stop on the course at Reliant Park just 11 laps into the race with a broken gearbox.
An issue with the gearbox in Saturday’s race caused Castroneves to finish 18th, while championship challenger Scott Dixon went on to win. Dixon cut his deficit from 49 points to eight that day.
Sunday’s mechanical failure sent a devastated Castroneves into the garage, where he watched helplessly as his Penske Racing crew tried to repair his car. Team owner Roger Penske retreated without comment into a team transporter.
