Marco Andretti's boot melted to gas pedal during Indy 500

How hot was it yesterday at the Indianapolis 500?  Hot enough to fell almost 200 spectators and actually melt driver Marco Andretti's boot to his gas peddle.

Track officials announced that the temperature had reached 91-degrees by the afternoon— one degree shy of the record set in 1937— but temperatures can climb as high as 130-degrees inside the race cars.

Andretti joked to his pit crew when he noticed the heat-related wardrobe malfunction.

"My boot has just melted to the throttle," he said to his crew while in the middle of the race.

They responded by telling Andretti, "We'll get some air blowing in there."

That must have been reassuring to the driver.

The only thing hotter than the Indiana heat wave was Dario Franchitti who won his third Indy 500.

Helio Castroneves wins race, salutes Dan Wheldon

Helio Castroneves made a bold pass on the outside of Scott Dixon to win the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.  After his victory, the Brazilian racer ran over to a tribute for the late race-car driver Dan Wheldon and pounded on the street sign that bears his name, "Dan Wheldon Way."

It was the Indycar season opener and the first victory for Castroneves since 2010.  It was also the first Indy car race since Wheldon— a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and St. Petersburg resident—was killed in an accident in October at Las Vegas Motor speedway.

Castroneves was winless last year and, after racing through the streets of St. Pete for Team Penske, was emotional about the long awaited victory and death of his friend Wheldon.

Before he was towed into the winner's circle, Castroneves trotted across the track and paid tribute to Wheldon by climbing the fence and pointing towards the skies.