AP Photo/David AdameHélio Castroneves just found a judge that was as easy to sway as Carrie Ann Inaba.
The 2007 Dancing With the Stars champ and former Indy 500 winner appeared in court today and managed to convince a federal judge in Miami to alter the travel-restriction terms of his bail on tax-dodging charges so he can jet to Australia to compete in a race.
The 33-year-old Brazilian-born racer had to surrender his passport last week as part of the conditions of his $10 million bond. Barring an appeal by prosecutors, he will now be allowed to get behind the wheel for the Oct. 26 event in Brisbane.
Last Saturday, Castroneves and teammate Ryan Briscoe won the American Le Mans Series Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta. The victory came a day after Castroneves pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and tax-evasion counts.
If convicted, he could face more than 30 years in federal prison.