Helio Castroneves Walks Away Unscathed From Indy 500 Warmup Crash

Helio Castroneves emerged from an incredible crash during Wednesday's warmup for the Indianapolis 500 completely unscathed.

"I didn’t expect to go flipping backward," Castroneves told USA Today Sports after his car tumbled through the air at over 200 mph.

"I was very surprised by that. I was expecting a big shunt and big issues, but it was just like I spun out at any other racetrack."

The Brazilian racer and former "Dancing with the Stars" champ lost control of his car at roughly 12:45 p.m. ET coming around Turn 1. The car spun 180 degrees, clipped the track wall, then lifted up and tumbled through the air before landing back on its wheels.

"I was expecting the car to spin out backward, but when it started to take off, I was like, 'Woah. This is surprising,'" he said. "It happened before. It’s not my first upside-down. I was expecting a big moment, but it never happened."

Castroneves was able to climb into the car that soon whisked him away to the IU Health Emergency Medical Center, where he was examined and cleared with no injuries.

He was pleased, and told reporters "You can’t be scared to go back out there. You’re confident because of this group of guys."

Castroneves will attempt to win his fourth Indy 500 on May 24.

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