HOMESTEAD, Fla. — The Indianapolis 500 champion is about to become a daddy.

Helio Castroneves confirmed today that he and his girlfriend, Adriana Henao, are expecting a child in January. The baby is a girl, and her name will be Mikaella.

“We thought about calling her ‘Indy,’ but we thought that might be a little too much,‘’ Castroneves said at Homestead-Miami Speedway, site of today’s season-ending IndyCar Series race, the Firestone Indy 300.

Castroneves, 34, has the sparkle in his eye over the news he received two days prior to winning the pole for the 500 in May. He has kept it a secret until telling his Team Penske crew members this weekend.

Castroneves and Henao have not started making plans to marry, but he said that’s “the natural next step.”

His hope is that he can model his new family after the one his father and mother created.

This has clearly been the most emotional year of Castroneves’ life. He was cleared of federal tax evasion charges in April, won his third 500 in May and now this.

“This year started very difficult, the middle was kind of a ‘Wow!’ and now this,‘’ he said. "This is a great ending for the book.’’