Helio Castroneves thinks of one that got away

Reporting from Sonoma, Calif. — 

If you mention to Helio Castroneves that he has one win so far this season in the Izod IndyCar Series, in Alabama back in April, he’ll politely but firmly correct you.

“I had another one at Edmonton,” Castroneves said Friday with a soft laugh before practicing for Sunday’s Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma at Infineon Raceway. “I’ll always say that it was a win.”

The Brazilian driver was poised for the victory July 25 at the Canadian race. But in a controversial call near the end, Castroneves was penalized by race officials for blocking his Team Penske teammate Will Power, dropping Castroneves to a 10th-place finish. Scott Dixon of Target Chip Ganassi Racing won the race.

An infuriated Castroneves confronted race officials afterward, grabbing one by the collar to complain, and that earned him a $60,000 fine. It was a rare show of anger by the normally cheerful 35-year-old driver, who once was winner of the “Dancing With the Stars” television contest.

By finishing 10th in Edmonton instead of winning, Castroneves — who has never won the IndyCar title — also lost 30 championship points that day. He’s now fifth in the standings, 121 points behind series leader Power, with five races remaining in the season.

On Friday, Power was second fastest in the drivers’ opening practice behind defending race winner Dario Franchitti, who also is the reigning series champion. Franchitti, in turn, is currently second to Power in this year’s title standings, 41 points back.

“We’re both on a roll,” Franchitti said after posting his top speed of 105.889 mph in practice. “We’re pushing each other hard.”

Castroneves was 11th fastest in practice, and “we certainly are now where we want to be,” he said. “We were trying a different setup from the other Team Penske cars and it looks like that was not the way to go.”

Nonetheless, Castroneves said he was glad to be back in California because he won the Sonoma race two years ago.

“This place I like very much,” Castroneves said, adding that he “absolutely” believed he can win again Sunday on the 2.3-mile, 12-turn Infineon layout, which also rises and falls in the hills of California wine country.

“The track is very difficult, very challenging, which I like,” he said. “You don’t have straightaways, you’re always braking, kind of turning, and it’s difficult to control. Plus there are the elevation changes.”

Castroneves, a three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, said he surprised even himself by getting so angry in Edmonton, and he later apologized for his outburst.

But “I still don’t agree with” the decision, he said. “I’m a human being, I’m an emotional guy. Unfortunately that time I was frustrated.”

james.peltz@latimes.com