Helio Castroneves and dance partner Julianne Hough are a hot property even before their initial performance, a Foxtrot, on the Season 5 opening week of “Dancing with the Stars. “
The buzz generated by the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and his dance partner has lit up Internet forums and Castroneves is considered the favorite among the male competitors of ABC’s hit series.
“Dancing with the Stars” kicks off with a 90-minute performance episode at 8 p. m. (ET) Sept. 24 featuring the female celebrities. Castroneves and the other male stars will showcase their moves Sept. 25 (8-9:30 p. m. ET). One couple’s fate will be determined Sept. 26.
Castroneves and Hough, who won last year’s contest with Apolo Anton Ohno, have been rehearsing for a month for the start of the campaign of athleticism and dancing ability.
“Just being an athlete in itself is awesome because he has the work ethic and the discipline to want to do something, ” Hough said of Castroneves. “It’s a lot harder to teach that than to teach performance and technique. Being a perfectionist, which is part of racing, he’ll want to do the best he can do.
“He definitely has what it takes. He has the personality, he’s got the Latin blood. He’s the bomb. “
Castroneves and Hough turned heads during the IndyCar Series season-finale weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Hough was introduced (complete with Indy Racing Experience two-seater ride at 175 mph) to Castroneves’ high-speed world with Team Penske.
The professional ballroom dancer and country singer captured all the sights and sounds of race day and was on pit lane to congratulate her dance partner on a fourth-place finish.
“It was incredible, ” Hough said. “It’s been really cool to watch him race. “
Of course Castroneves and Hough expect to finish better in “Dancing with the Stars. “
“She’ll say, ‘Listen, imagine you’re a car, going smooth, up and down, ’ ” Castroneves said. “I can relate to that. But it’s been hard. Driving a race car, you use your arms, neck but not so much your legs. I’m regretting (not including squats and other leg exercises in training) it now. “
Competing in the IndyCar Series will serve him well, according to Hough.
“I think everybody (in the IndyCar Series) is competitive, and I think that will translate really well onto the floor, ” Hough said. “He’ll bring that energy over to the dance floor. ”
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