Backstage Report: Helio Castroneves Crosses 'Dancing' Finish Line

The Racecar Driver Wins; Mark Ballas Rushed to Hospital; Maksim Says He Won't Return

Nov. 28 -- The nail-biting final moments came down to the diva and the driver and -- thanks to racing fans -- Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves won the title from runner-up Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls in last night's 'Dancing With the Stars' season five finale. Castroneves and his dancing partner Julianne Hough (who won last season's competition with Olympic ice champ Apolo Anton Ohno) spoke to AOL TV's Michael Maloney shortly after claiming their coveted mirror ball trophies.

AOL fans voted you two to win.
Hough: Yay, AOL! Thanks for picking us!
Castroneves: You guys are awesome!
Did you think that Mel and Maks would win since they had a slightly higher score?
Castroneves: There were rumors she was ahead of us [in the voting]. I can't believe the fans pulled it out for us!
You scored a 29 in Monday's freestyle, which was the highest score of the night.
Castroneves: It was upsetting. I was going for 30.

Julianne, how hard was it lifting Helio?
Hough: You know, I'm a little girl, but I have some muscles. It's all about timing and momentum.
Where will you keep your trophies?
Hough: Helio said that he would keep his in between his Indy 500 trophies. I'll put mine next to my other one -- bookends!
What's next?
Hough: I'm going to Nashville to finish my album.
Castroneves: She's going to be a huge star and I'm going back to racing. I was talking to some of the other dancers tonight and [they said] it's hard going back to your old world, but I knew [this] would end someday.

Castroneves was given a container of milk upon winning, which was a nod to a tradition in the racing world in which the champion is given a container of the dairy drink. "One of the producers [provided it]," explained Castroneves' pal Adrian Bellani. "We were talking about bringing some milk, but we didn't want to jinx it. This is fantastic for Helio. America has embraced his charisma, talent and personality."

Other 'Dancing' celebrities that returned for the finale were happy for the winner. "Helio is amazing," raved entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks basketball team owner Mark Cuban. "He's a great dancer and he's everyone's best friend. You can't help but like him and want to hang out with him." Added Cameron Mathison: "I was not surprised to see Helio and Julianne bring it home. He's been working so hard and is an easy guy to root for."

Host Tom Bergeron said it could have gone to Brown or Castroneves. "I would have been thrilled if either of them had won," he said. "But I told Julianne in one of her first rehearsals that she could [win]. Helio had a little bit of a lag in the middle of the competition, but then he came back."

Bergeron stands by his on-air comment that 'Cheetah Girl' Sabrina Bryan's unexpected departure wasn't the show's only untimely exit. "Even though Albert [Reed] said he was the least famous person among the stars, he charmed all of us," recalled Bergeron. "That he didn't connect with voters was a shame because I think they would have gotten to love the guy."

In addition to shocking exoduses, this season was filled with other dramatic developments, including the loss of parents, a dance floor fall, a fainting spell, food poisoning and fires. The finale was no exception; Bryan's partner (and rumored beau) Mark Ballas left the show in an ambulance after injuring his shoulder. Also, Brown's partner, the hunky Maksim Chmerkovskiy told KABC-TV that he would not be returning for season six in March because he misses his family and needs a break.

Chmerkovskiy was vocal in an interview leading up to the finale. He told 'Extra' that he didn't believe that Marie Osmond should be in the finals. Was he concerned that his candid comments about America's sweetheart could turn off voters? "I will always remember Marie as one of the most amazing people that I've ever met," Chmerkovskiy said. "I'm not backpedaling. As a dancer, she shouldn't have been in the finals. People asked me my dancing opinions and I have to answer [truthfully]."

"I'm so proud of what we've done and what we continued to do each week," said Brown, who's due to go on tour with her fellow Spice Girls in a few days. "America has embraced us. I'm British! America's not my home, but now I feel like it is."



Osmond and partner Jonathan Roberts felt that the judges were a bit harsh in their critique of their Monday night freestyle dance, which paid homage to Osmond's doll line. "I'm 48 years old and I'm doing things I couldn't do 10 weeks ago," countered Osmond, who was voted out early in Wednesday's finale. "It was not an easy dance."

The entertainer received support from her brother Donny Osmond, who was doing 'Dancing' commentary for 'Entertainment Tonight.' "I feel they were tough on Marie; she took chances," said Donny, who hastened to note that he's not saying that the judges don't have a right to their opinions. "I want to make sure there are no sour grapes," he added.

Bergeron gave high marks to the show's finale because all the past celebrities and their dancing partners returned and were given opportunities to strut their stuff once more. (Singer/entertainer Wayne Newton and boxer Floyd Mayweather, who has an upcoming fight, opted not to dance due to health concerns.) "That made such a difference with the energy in the room," Bergeron said. "This show had everything that was the best of the last ten weeks."

As promised Mathison went shirtless in the finale by tossing his "Super-Cameron" muscle T-shirt to host (and birthday girl) Samantha Harris. "If Michael [Samantha's husband] wasn't going to get her that $750,000 necklace she was wearing, a sweaty shirt from Cameron was a good second choice," quipped Bergeron.

Viewers who can't wait till season six can either check out the Activision videogame 'Dancing With The Stars' now on sale and/or the 'Dancing' tour, which is set to begin in December. Also, judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli return in January with the live show 'Dance Wars: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann' (hosted by 'Dancing's' season three winner Drew Lachey). What will 'Dancing' fans love about 'Dance Wars'? "It's a live singing and dancing show," said Tonioli. "Young performers will have the opportunity to do live production numbers each week." Will the judges (whose teams are competing against each other) emerge as friends? "Always," said a smiling Inaba.

Go to our Jennie Garth Backstage Report>>