Rahal, Castroneves appear in national magazines

Helio Castroneves and Graham Rahal are featured in general interest magazines out this week. While Rahal( in Cosmopolitan Magazine) displays a designer watch prominent in the photo, Castroneves (in ESPN The Magazine's "Bodies We Want" issue) shows a whole lot more.

"First of all, I'm honored to be in the magazine," said Castroneves, who joins more than 20 other athletes who were captured all natural in poses related to their sport. "There are so many amazing athletes. I was just so surprised because I'm not the type of guy — 6 foot tall, broad shoulders – that I thought they would want."

The three-time Indianapolis 500 champion, who's 5-7 and about 145 pounds, laughs at what was proposed by photographer Luis Sanchis on the set that included a tire swing.

"I thought they'd do something like you wear underwear and they would air brush it out," he says. "But when I got there it was a big surprise. I would be completely naked. It was done in an artistic way. I'm comfortable with the group that was there.

"It was a unique experience. Hopefully, the fans will enjoy it."

Rahal's image, captured during the Toronto race weekend in July, accompanies the online piece for readers to select the "Bachelor of the Year." He represents Indiana, where the Ohio native has resided since December. Rahal also is featured in the magazine's November print issue (on newsstands Oct. 11).

Vote for Rahal through Oct. 16 at http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/bachelors-2011/bachelors-2011-indiana. The top 10 vote-getters will be the semifinalists, and Cosmo editors will select the "Bachelor of the Year," which will be announced Oct. 18 when all the state (plus the District of Columbia) representatives will gather in New York for the annual Cosmo Bachelor of the Year party hosted by editor-in-chief Kate White.

Though the 22-year-old Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing driver isn't a reader Cosmopolitan (maybe thumbing through it once or twice?), he appreciates the attention it brings to the team, the IZOD IndyCar Series and, yes, himself. Much like Castroneves' pages in ESPN The Magazine, though Rahal says he wouldn't agree. "It's just not my thing to be running around with my shirt off."

What magazine would he like to be the cover story? "Any sort of sports or golf magazine; that's what interests me."