DWTS Champion Helio Castroneves Also Has a Broken Ball

Brazilian race-car pro joins list of Dancing With the Stars winners who have had problems with their trophies

The producers of Dancing With the Stars need to start paying more attention to their balls—disco balls, that is.

As we exclusively revealed last year in our very hard-hitting investigative reporting (natch), the champion disco ball trophies aren't exactly high quality. Cheryl Burke and Shawn Johnson were the first to admit their trophies had to be repaired after they began to fall apart.

Now, season five's cha-cha champ, race-car driver Helio Castroneves, has come forward with a similar story... 

"If they need something to get better on the show, it's the trophy," the 34-year-old told us earlier this week at L.A. Live, where he was promoting his upcoming Izod IndyCar Series Streets of Long Beach race. "I've even glued mine. The glass was coming off. I'm glad to hear other winners saying that, because I thought it was only me!"

Castroneves was in the audience for Monday night's premiere of season 10. He had some words of advice for two of the more recognizable wannabe waltzers.

"Evan Lysacek is certainly going to be a good dancer because of his background and talent, but I think the personality could prevent him from going far," Castroneves said. "If he continues coming off very serious like a speed-skater or professional athlete, that might affect him negatively. He needs to come off like he's having fun. He shouldn't be too serious."

And how about one of the country's most disliked well-known reality-television moms, Kate Gosselin?

"She looked a little nervous, like she was feeling pressure," Castroneves said. "She needs to relax and follow her dance partner. She needs to be herself. If she's not a nice person, nothing can help. But maybe she can prove she's there because she wants to make her kids proud and wants to be an example to other moms. I think that needs to be the message."