Helio Castroneves slammed the brakes of his red-and-white race car on pit road, climbed onto the sidepod and thrust both fists in the air. The crowd at Indianapolis Motor Speedway roared.

“We love you, Helio!” a woman screamed.

What a month it’s been for the star driver-slash-dance champion-slash-fence climber — and it just keeps getting better.

In the space of a few hours Friday, Castroneves learned the remaining tax evasion charge against him had been dropped by the federal government, then he posted the fastest speed in the final practice for the Indy 500, then he won a pit-stop competition with the help of his Penske Racing crew.

All that good news came on the heels of Castroneves capturing the pole for Sunday’s race, making him one of the favorites to win “The Greatest Spectacle In Racing” for a third time, a victory that would leave him trailing only A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears — the gold standard at the ol’ Brickyard.

“This month just keeps getting better and better,” said Castroneves, struggling to hold back tears. “This is the last page in my book.”

Well, not quite, but he’s already got quite a story, as reported in this AP News article.

Castroneves was hauled off to court in shackles when the federal government accused him of hiding millions of dollars in an offshore company to avoid paying taxes. A guilty verdict could have sent him to prison for up to six years and might have ended the career of one of IndyCar’s most popular drivers.

But a Miami jury acquitted him of most charges April 17. That very same day, he hopped on a plane sent by team owner Roger Penske, flew across the country and jumped back into the car Penske had promised to hold for him.

Two days after the verdict, Castroneves finished seventh in a race on the streets of Long Beach, Calif. He followed up with a runner-up showing on the high-speed oval in Kansas City. Now, he’s determined to add another Indy victory to his back-to-back wins in 2001 and 2002.

He no longer has to worry about that lone conspiracy charge the jury couldn’t agree on. As expected, federal prosecutors decided to drop what was left of their case against the 34-year-old Castroneves.

“You’re thinking it’s going to happen, but it takes a little while,” he said. “Then it happens, and you’re still like, ‘Is this for real?’ Maybe tonight, or maybe after the race, I really don’t know if it’s going to sink in or not. But right now, this is just the best month of my life.”

Castroneves’ sister Katiucia — who also was charged in the case and received the same verdict as her little brother — delivered the news to him just before he went out for the traditional “Carb Day” practice, when the drivers get one final hour on the historic 2.5-mile oval to set up their cars for race day.

Their father came along, too. It was brief but exuberant celebration, an entire family feeling as though a burden had been lifted. Castroneves hurried off to tell his team before heading to the track to post a faster lap than anyone else, nearly 224 mph.

“This is my family’s win,” he said. “My life is back.”

U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of Miami declined comment beyond his office’s terse one-paragraph dismissal order that was signed by U.S. District Judge Donald Graham, ending the criminal case.

The Castroneves’ lawyers, Roy Black and Howard Srebnick, said it would have been illogical to try the siblings again on a conspiracy charge when they were found innocent of the underlying tax evasion counts. Black also made a reference to Helio’s nickname “Spiderman,” which comes from his practice of scaling racetrack fences after his victories.

“The jury finds him not guilty, then he wins the pole position at Indy, and now the government drops the case completely,” Black said. “All he has to do now is win the race and climb the fence.”

Castroneves said he’s got his climbing shoes on.

“Absolutely,” he said with that gleaming smile of his. “Why change?”

He has changed, of course, and everyone around him believes it’s for the better. Those on Castroneves’ team couldn’t resist poking a little fun at him after the pit-stop event.

“He bought us all dinner last week,” said chief mechanic Rick Rinaman.

“Yeah, that was a first,” quipped Tim Cindric, president of Penske Racing. “We always knew that he was cheap, but he was not criminal in our minds.”

On a more serious note, Cindric revealed another change in the fun-loving driver, who vaulted to even greater worldwide fame by winning TV’s “Dancing With The Stars” competition in 2007. He led a charmed life, but the tax case threatened to ruin it all.

“I don’t know if maturity is the right word,” Cindric said, “but he spent his life a little sheltered from what the real world was all about. Not that you ever wanted him to go through that, but he saw a real tough part of the world there for a little while, and he came back a lot stronger.”

Helio and Katiucia Castroneves, along with their Michigan-based attorney Alan Miller, were accused by the Internal Revenue Service of plotting to evade some $2.3 million in taxes using a Panamanian shell corporation and supposedly crooked dealings with a former Castroneves sponsor, the Brazilian firm Coimex.

Castroneves’ lawyers contended all along that the Coimex deal was legitimate and that he simply set up a deferred income account in the Netherlands for $5 million he was paid by Penske Racing under a contract signed in 1999. When that account comes due, Black said, Castroneves will pay his U.S. taxes as he intended all along.

Miller was acquitted of all charges at the trial.

Castroneves remains one of the most popular drivers on the IndyCar circuit, and he came close to tearing up again when he talked about all the support he received during his trial. The big crowd at Indy cheered loudly when he defeated Marco Andretti in the final of the pit competition, rolling into the pits, getting all four tires changed and pulling away in a record time of 7.962 seconds.

Later, as Castroneves walked along a second-floor balcony, the fans below cheered and held up three fingers — his car number.

Fellow driver Tony Kanaan, a close friend since their childhood in Brazil, said Castroneves is more upbeat and positive than he ever was, but his priorities are in order.

“He was reborn,” Kanaan said. “When he has a bad day at the racetrack, he will never complain about it anymore.”

Or anything else, for that matter.

“I appreciate things I normally wouldn’t,” Castroneves said. “I used to get upset when my flight was delayed. Now, I’m happy. I’m just happy to have a chance to take a plane anywhere.

“I do feel like I’m a better person.”

AP writer Curt Anderson in Miami contributed to this report.

Bebel Gilberto perfectly typifies the music you hear each week on The Sounds of Brazil: She’s purely Brazilian – daughter of the legendary ‘Father of Bossa Nova’ João Gilberto and singer Miucha. Her uncle is the equally famous Brazilian singer/songwriter Chico Buarque. And the fact that her step-mom is Astrud Gilberto only completes a picture of Brazilian musical royalty.

Bebel is also distinctively American – born in New York City, raised in Rio and able to put the innovative qualities of both cultures to their greatest effect. In spite of her family tree, Bebel has become an international hit, uniquely positioned in Brazilian music – something that children of other Brazilian stars, like Elis Regina, Caetano Veloso and even Antonio Carlos Jobim have not accomplished. That’s what qualifies her as a ‘Brazilian Diva’.

We’ve framed her music with songs from Djavan, John Legend with Sergio Mendes, a Bossa classic from Stan Getz, guitar magic from Torcuato Mariano, Dori Caymmi and sax man Art Porter with Lee Ritenour, too! Plus Luiz Avellar’s Brazilian piano and music from Toco and Marcos Ariel.

I hope that you’ll tune in to spend some time with me – on the radio or all week long on our 24/7 webcast channel at Connectbrazil.com – keyword RADIO!

PS – Visit our ‘Radio & Webcast’ page at Connectbrazil.com and be sure to sign up for our ‘Extended’ TSOB Extra channel, too!

It’s been a while since we’ve featured Kevyn Lettau here on The Sounds of Brazil, so this week, we’ll take a long look at some of our favorite songs from her Brazilian recordings, along with a story or two that suggests there is still more to come from this talented singer/songwriter as we continue with this month’s ‘Crossing Borders’ theme.

And our Friday night ‘Nine O’Clock Treasure Song’ will give you a preview, too!

Kevyn Lettau was born in Germany, raised in southern California and loves to sing Brazilian songs in Portuguese.

Kevyn began her career at about the same time The Sounds of Brazil came into being. I first met her at a storied little club in Chicago called the Jazz Bulls right around that time, and it began a friendship that continues to this day. And although she’s moved into different musical circles as her career progressed, a weekend phone call was all that was needed to catch us up again – always fun to chat! Isn’t it interesting how some friendships work that way?

And as her fans know all too well, Kevyn’s music carries that same welcoming signature; a comfortable ‘come as you are’ place that’s been part of her style from the very beginning. In fact, she got her start in southern California with Sergio Mendes (who guests on her debut CD) and Al Jarreau. “He was very, very, very instrumental in my really becoming a singer. I went to a concert of his in L.A. and somehow managed to get backstage and handed him an envelope containing a tape of jazz standards I had recorded, and lo and behold, the very next morning he called me up. He said, ‘What a wonderful young talent. I’d love to come hear you sing live.’ Through the years, we would rekindle the friendship, on and off, and then a tour came up – to Germany – and I got to go with my band, as an opening act and on several occasions Al invited me to come up and sing with him during his show. He’s an amazing singer and an amazing musician and just has a heart of gold.”

Appropriately, we’ve surrounded Kevyn with a brace of Brazilian gems from Emilio Santiago, a Chicago style duet with saxophonist Steve Cole and Rob Ryndak, Pat Metheny and some ‘Old School’ fun from Bossa pianist Luiz Eça. Plus songs from Ed Johnson & Novo Tempo, Mike Catalano and our ‘Spotlight Segment’ captures guitarist Torcuato Mariano playing behind Djavan for a perfect springtime serenade!

I hope that you’ll tune in to spend some time with me – on the radio or all week long on our 24/7 webcast channel at Connectbrazil.com – keyword RADIO!

PS – Visit our ‘Radio & Webcast’ page at Connectbrazil.com and be sure to sign up for our ‘Extended’ TSOB Extra channel, too!

Even if you’re not a regular auto racing fan, you have to take a moment or two to admire Helio Castroneves, in the wake of his pole-winning run for this years’ Indy 500 Memorial Day weekend classic. And your admiration will probably take a greater leap when you realize that his third win on this American classic last Sunday afternoon puts him in a league of his own - literally.

Helio Castroneves is the only currently active Indy Car driver with three wins, making him the only driver capable of winning a record five Indianapolis 500 wins in his career. Four-time winners include the legendary A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears.

Castroneves was a favorite right from the start, but fell back midway through the race, only to recapture the lead late in the race. After an extended caution period – when fellow Brazilian drivers Vitor Meira and Raphael Matos tangled in turn 1. The restart on lap 183 (of 200) found Helio jumping out to a quick advantage, and he was never challenged.

Helio’s amazing story began much earlier in the traditional month of May for Indy. And, but for the clear display of true depth of character, it might not have turned out nearly as well.

Two and a half weeks before his qualifying run at the Brickyard last Saturday, Castroneves was pondering his fate as he awaited the final verdicts on six counts of tax evasion brought against him by the US Government. But, now free of the charges, neither Indy’s overcast skies or the stress of the past six months could spoil Helio Castroneves’ achievement in the face of adversity.

Adversity that would understandably overwhelm most of us. And if we wanted to ‘take a break’ after the ‘Not Guilty’ verdicts, no one would argue.

Perhaps that’s what makes Helio Castroneves a champion – and someone whose fortitude and focus can be admired.

So the two-time Indy 500 champ basked in the $100,000 pole award as he looked forward with his trademark smile and usual emotion of laughter and tears.

“It’s a good start,” Castroneves said. “It’s two races here and we accomplished the first race. We have a lot of work ahead of us. That’s what we’ll focus on.”

Driving an Indycar at speed around the 2.5 mile oval is one of the most challenging feats in sports worldwide. G-forces work against your ability to control the car at speeds few could ever comprehend. And then there’s the wall – often only a few inches away as you battle for those final few tenths of a second. Over the course of Indy’s 100 years, that wall has dashed the countless hopes of a race win and claimed dozens of lives against the pursuit of speed.

If a shortstop missed an easy line drive, it’s chalked up as an ‘error’. If a lineman moves before the snap, it’s a 10-yard penalty. If an Indycar driver makes the slightest mistake, it’s the wall that punishes you.

Castroneves’ Saturday focus produced a winning four-lap average of 224.864 mph. That was just ahead of his Penske Racing teammate Ryan Briscoe (224.083 mph).

“I thank Roger Penske and Tim Cindric for being behind me all the way,” Helio said. “They gave me my life back by getting me in a racecar. This is what I love to do. This place is magic.”

So take a moment to reflect on what a champion does. And applaud Castroneves for his resolve. When people speak of mettle, that’s what they mean.

Cheer on Helio Castroneves and a quartet of other Brazilian drivers as they compete in this year’s Indianapolis 500, May 24, 2009 beginning at 1 pm ET on ABC television.

Here’s how the rest of Brazil’s drivers lined up and finished:

Tony Kannan, Car #11 – Row 2, 6^{th –} Accident, DNF

Mario Moraes, Car #5 – Row 3, 7^{th –} Accident, DNF

Raphael Matos, Car #2 – Row 4, 12^{th –} Accident, DNF

Vitor Meira, Car #14 – Row 5, 14^{th –} Accident, DNF

May’s Brazilian Datebook

1

(1968) During this month, Brazil’s short-lived Tropicália music movement is born with the recording of the record album ‘Tropicália ou Panis et Circenses’ with songs from Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Rita Lee with Os Mutantes and even Bossa’s muse, Nara Leão. Learn more about Tropicália here. (1994) Three-time Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna da Silva dies in a racing accident during the Grand Prix of San Marinao at Imola, Italy. Senna is regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula One.

2

(1972) Brazilian singer Ivete Sangalo is born in Juazeiro, Bahia.

3

(1955) Legendary Brazilian guitarist Garoto dies. Born Anibal Augusto Sardinha, ‘Garoto’ is generally regarded as a pioneer in the development of the modern Brazilin guitar style.

4

(1937) Brazil’s pioneering pop songwriter Noel Rosa dies in Rio of tuberculosis at age 26. Rosa gave Samba a new twist by injecting social commentary into his lyrics, much like our own Cole Porter.

(1953) Singer & songwriter Lulu Santos is born in Rio de Janeiro. (1961)  Herbert Vianna – lead singer and guitarist for the rock/pop group Paralamas do Sucesso – is born in João Pessoa, Paraíba.  Singer/guitarist/songwriter Celia Vaz is born in Rio de Janeiro.

5

(1918) Guitarist Dino 7 Cordas, Herondino Jose da Silva is born in Rio de Janeiro. He dies on May 27, 2006 – also in Rio. (1946) Samba singer Beth Carvalho is born in Rio de Janeiro.

6

(1958) MPB singer and composer Fátima Guedes is born in Rio de Janeiro. (2001) Composer Mario Telles dies.

7

(1990) Proto-Bossa legend Elizeth Cardoso passes away in Rio de Janeiro. Her original recording of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s and Vinicius de Moreas’  ‘Chega de Saudade’ in May of 1958 included João Gilberto’s revolutionary guitar rhythm, preceding Bossa Nova’s birth by about eight weeks.

8

(1924) Songwriter Billy Blanco is born in Belem, PA. His work includes: Sinfonia Paulistana, Tereza da Praia, O Morro, Estatuto da Gafieira, Mocinho Bonito, Samba Triste, Viva Meu Samba, Samba de Morro, Pra Variar, Sinfonia do Rio de Janeiro. (1977) Singer and instrumentalist Mariana Bernardes is born in Rio de Janiero.

9

(1942). Samba/MPB singer and songwriter Nei Lopez is born in the Irajá district of Rio de Janeiro. He is also known for promoting African-Brazilian studies as a lecturer and writer.

10

(1918) Conductor /composer Moacyr Silva is born in Conselheiro Lafayete. Mato Grosso. (1957) Singer Fausto Fawcet is born in Rio de Janeiro. (1960) São Paulo wraps up its very first Bossa Nova show at Teatro Record. Among the stars for the 1st ‘Festival Nacional da Bossa Nova’ are Norma Bengell, Carlos Lyra, Elza Soares, Alaide Costa, Agostinho dos Santos and Juca Chaves fronting a band led by Luis Carlos Vinhas and Oscar Castro Neves. (1975) Hélio Castroneves (born Hélio Castro-Neves) is born in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. Helio is a tw0-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 (in 2001 and 2002). He is also the nephew of Bossa Nova guitar legend Oscar Castro-Neves.

 11

(1939) Bossa legend Carlos Lyra is born. Lyra’s most famous compositions include ‘Coisa Mais Linda’, ‘Você e Eu’, ‘Maria Ninguém’ (noted by Jacqueline Kennedy to be her favorite song), and ‘Influência do Jazz’.

12

(1932) Keyboard/Organist Walter Wanderley is born in Recife PA. (1966) Singer and songwriter Bebel Gilberto, daughter of João Gilberto and Miucha is born in New York City, NY.

13

(1956) MPB singer, songwriter Vânia Bastos is born in Ourinhos, São Paulo.

14

(1965) Singer and instrumentalist Ju Cassou – founder of the group Garganta Profunda is born in Curitiba PR. (1969) Singer Adriana Moreira is born in Curitiba PR.

15

(1940) Guitarist, arranger, conductor and songwriter Oscar Castro-Neves is born in Rio de Janeiro. At 14 he formed a Bossa Nova/Jazz group with his brothers, later moving to the US to become a citizen. Oscar’s credits appear on countless recordings and concert date and he is an integral part of the Brazilian ‘sound ‘ in the US. He is also the uncle of Brazil race car driver Helio Castroneves.

16

(1963) Antonio Carlos Jobim leaves Rio to live in New York City and begin his career as one of Brazil’s most successful musicians. A week earlier, he had completed the first recording under his own name, ‘Antonio Carlos Jobim – The Composer of “Desafinado” Plays’, produced by Creed Taylor and arranged by Claus Ogerman.

17

Today is Constitution Day in Brazil. (1912) Frederico Cardoso de Menezes presents the operetta ‘Colégio de Senhoritas’ at the Teatro São Jose in Rio de Janeiro, showcasing the talent of early MPB songstress Chiquinha Gonzaga. (1926) Helena de Lima, a pioneering vocalist for MPB is born in Rio de Janeiro.

18

(1950) Saxophone and flute player Mauro Senise is born in Rio de Janeiro. (1954) Cellist and composer Jaques Morelenbaum is born in Rio de Janeiro.

19

(1929) Bossa Nova singer and songwriter Johnny Alf is born in Rio de Janeiro. (1940) Piano master Luis Carlos Vinhas is born in Rio de Janeiro.

21

(1912) The operetta ‘Colégio de Senhoritas’ –by Fredrico Cardoso se Menezes – a precursor to MPB begins its successful run at Teatro São Jose.

23

(1908) Singer/songwriter Silvio Caldas is born in Rio de Janeiro. He is remembered for many popular songs, including ‘Chão de Estrelas’. (1972) Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello, born Rubens Gonçalves “Rubinho” Barrichello is born in São Paulo. Barrichello, who in 2009 competes in Formula One for the Braun GP Team (nee Honda F-1), rose to fame as teammate to Michael Schumacher at Ferrari and was championship runner up in 2002 and 2004.

24

(1978) The profession of ‘Artist’ is officially recognized by the Brazilian government, to include dancers, actors and musicians.

25

(1992) Pianist Luiz (Luis) Eça – of Tamba Trio fame – passes away in Rio de Janeiro.

26

(1930) Composor, accordionist and guitarist Sivuca, Severino Dias de Oliveira is born in Itabaiana PB. Singer and actor Tony Tornado , Antonio Viana Gomes is born in Mirante de Paranapanema, SP.

27

(1937) Journalist, author, writer, lyricist and supporter of MPB, Sergio Cabral is born in Rio de Janeiro.

Djavan – Eu Te Devoro

Most Brazilians are high-rise dwellers in the bigger cities, but the ‘single family home’ has become a coveted concept, and an expensive one: Prices upwards of a million Brazilian dollars are not uncommon. And one of the big selling points for these homes is a separate, covered area for grilling Brazilian BBQ. These ‘Churrasqueiras’ are well-appointed open-air party places, with a patio, outdoor kitchen facilities and of course a tall, charcoal burning brick grill, complete with a rotisserie unit for multiple skewers. Duplicating this in our chilly US climes probably isn’t possible for most of us, but here’s a tip to help make your grilling closer to ‘the Brazilian way’:

First, get a good charcoal burning grill. Gas is nice but you’ll get better results with charcoal, and I don’t mean those self-lighting brickettes. Dump those in favor of a good supply of real charcoal (hickory and mesquite are readily available year-round at most good Mexican food markets). You’ll use about a bag for the average big grill.

And don’t use starter fluid, either. Instead, make a cone from several paper towels and bend the tip over to seal it. Fill the cone with veggie oil and carefully place it in the center of your charcoal pile – hollow it out so the cone will nest deep down. Then build up the charcoal around and over the cone, leaving room to light an edge of the cone with a match. Viola! A sure-fire way to keep those embers glowing without the chemicals, smell and taste of American brickettes, and you’ll impress your friends, too!

Hello Everyone,

Happy May – beautiful weekend! It’s one of my favorite months as Spring comes alive with budding flowers and trees – and music fills the air!

And a new monthly theme, ‘Crossing Borders’ kicks off tonight with guitarist Lee Ritenour, who has been one of America’s best friends to Brazilian jazz – he’s introduced our American audiences to many of Brazil’s top singers including Ivan Lins, Djavan, Gonzaguinha, Caetano Veloso and João Bosco (to name but a few) by giving them their first US-based recordings here. And one of his latest CD’s ‘Smoke n Mirrors’ includes a beautiful song called ‘Blue Days’ featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim’s grandson, Daniel – in addition to that great version of ‘Forget Me Nots’ he did with singer Zamajobe.

So this week, our playlist  is filled with ‘Lee’ song, plus singer Luciana Souza with James Taylor – a beautiful duet for his classic ‘Never Die Young’, saxophonist Art Porter, keyboard wiz Mike Catalano with a track from his latest CD featuring Ivan Lins and guitarist Ricardo Silveira, Astrud Gilberto with Stanley Turrentine, even trumpeter Rick Braun, too!

Even tunes from Kenia and Ed Johnson and Novo Tempo’s The Other Road CD, and a laid-back masterpiece from Torcuato Mariano – a ‘radio only’ hit that you won’t find in stores!

A cool breeze in Summer, and a warm wind when the weather turns cold – that’s The Sounds of Brazil! On the radio in selected cities and our 24/7 webcast channel all week long at Connectbrazil.com!

And don’t forget to check  out The Sounds of Brazil ‘Extended’ channel – keyword – EXTRA.

Scott Adams

Could there an upcoming smack down between supermodels from Brazil and Israel? (We have no doubt that some of our readers would pay to see that). Quoted on Fox News, Istraeli model Donna Feldman said her country’s most beautiful women are ready to take over the crown as the world’s most sought after swimsuit models from Gisele Budchen and her fellow countrywoman.

“Every time I visit my family in Israel I am blown away by how beautiful the women are. The beach in Tel Aviv is filled with tan, curvy, all-natural exotic women,” Feldman said. “Instead of a single man vacationing on the beach in Brazil, Israel is definitely another option to consider.” No response from Bundchen and her ilk. They’re probably too busy shooting the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.