Associated PressHelio Castroneves, of Brazil, climbs into his car during a practice session for the IndyCar Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on Monday.

SPEEDWAY –– Ed Carpenter was still a day away from thrilling the Indianapolis Motor Speedway crowd with a 230-mph qualifying lap and winning the pole position for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

But he saw an opening during the Fast Nine news conference in the media center and couldn’t resist getting in a playful jab at one of his toughest competitors.

Helio Castroneves had set the fastest time in the first day of qualifying, and he was asked about his memories from his first victory — as a rookie driver — at Indy.

“What year was that?” Carpenter asked before Castroneves could begin his response.

“That was 2001,” Castroneves replied.

“I wasn’t even (racing) here yet,” Carpenter jabbed back.

“Look at this guy,” Castroneves said, turning toward the assembled media. “So I have more experience than you guys.”

That was the cue for Castroneves’ own Team Penske partner, Simon Pagenaud, to get in on the act.

“I wasn’t even racing,” the Frenchman noted with laughter.

“All right,” Castroneves said, sensing he was outnumbered, “very good.”

“Keep it coming,” Danica Patrick interjected, happy not to be the center of attention for once during the hectic final month of her celebrated career.

“We’ll see who is going to be last (at) the end of the race,” Castroneves said, getting the final word.

The affable Brazilian always is the life of the party, and his return to the Verizon IndyCar series this month seemingly has been welcomed in every garage.

Everyone it seems loves Helio. And — to some extent — they also fear him.

The reverance for “The King of Speed” is palpable.

He’s the only driver in this year’s field with mulitiple Indy 500 victories, and he again can join the race’s immortals with his fourth trip to victory lane. Only A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears have accomplished that feat in the event’s first 101 editions.

Castroneves came tantalizing close to making history last year.

He led the race with seven laps remaining, but Takuma Sato passed him on Lap 194 and held on two win by .2011 of a second. It marked the second time Castroneves finished as the runner-up since his last victory in 2009 — the other came in 2014 behind Ryan Hunter-Reay — and it was the third runner-up finish of his career at the Brickyard.

Despite moving over to Roger Penske’s revived IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team this year — and recording his first win with co-driver Ricky Taylor in the series at Mid-Ohio on May 6 — Indy has dominated Castroneves’ thoughts.

“I think about it every day,” he said of his 2017 finish. “It was one of those incredible ones. I have (a) phenomenal car — the Pennzoil car was really strong last year.

“Obviously coming back here, first of all, I want to thank Roger and (Team Penske president Tim) Cindric for giving me the opportunity to be back at the Indy 500. It’s such a special place for so many people. Just to be back and able to continue our goal and pursue for the number four, it’s incredible.”

Castroneves’ place in IndyCar history already is secure — especially when it comes to the Indianapolis 500.

He won the race in his first two tries and finished second to teammate Gil de Ferran in his third attempt in 2003. That three-year stretch has only been equaled by Unser from 1970-72.

He’s one of just five drivers to win the race in back-to-back years and also has claimed the pole position four times — tied for second all-time behind Mears with six.

But there’s something special about that four-time winners club.

Mears was the last to join it in 1991, and he has served as a mentor to Castroneves. He’ll again be the team’s spotter in Turn 3 on Sunday.

That’s just part of the support group Castroneves believes again sets him up for success.

Pagenaud referred to this year’s four-driver Penske group as a “dream team,” and it’s an apt description.

Will Power — the 2014 IndyCar series points champion — won the Indy Grand Prix on May 12 and will start third in the field Sunday. Pagenaud — the 2016 points champion — starts second. Josef Newgarden — the 2017 series champ and reigning points leader — starts fourth.

Castroneves will be eighth, in the middle of Row 3, after gambling and losing in an attempt to match Carpenter’s speed on pole day.

Between them, the Penske drivers have 73 career IndyCar wins. And the team has won three of the last four races on this year’s schedule.

“I do have one of the best teams in the business, especially in Indianapolis,” Castroneves said. “It seems to bring the best out of everyone. With that, (it) also bring(s) the best out of me.”

Even in this prestigious company, Castroneves can’t help but stand out.

Early in the first practice week, a young fan hovering near the Penske garages found Pagenaud and asked for an autograph. The kid mentioned there was just one Penske driver whose signature still was missing from his hat.

So Pagenaud led him inside the garage to a small meeting room where Castroneves was huddled with the team owner eating lunch. Video of the moment quickly went viral on social media, and it was difficult to tell who was more excited — Castroneves or the kid.

There’s been a nearly constant smile on the legend’s face this month, whether he’s joking with his competitors during a news conference or even dealing with a disappointing result on the final day of qualifying.

Castroneves’ affinity for this race is infectious.

“Helio, you know, he lives for this,” Pagenaud said. “That’s what he lives for. It’s his passion. He loves Indy. He’s been very, very focused on trying to get his fourth win.

“So he’s back here. He’s been working on the simulator. He’s been studying everything, listening to what we have to say about the car. He’s fully ready. He’s very aggressive already. I think he’s just like a fish in the water.”

Fellow drivers are quick to jab the 43-year-old about his age and his part-time status in the series.

But they all understand he’s among the most dangerous competitors in the field.

And, truth be told, many of them likely share Pagenaud’s opinion of how they’d like to see race day unfold.

“I wish him good luck,” Pagenaud said. “I just hope he’s going to be just behind me. If I don’t win, I want him to win his fourth.”