What Helio Castroneves is looking forward to most in the next week:

1. His pillow at his Fort Lauderdale, Fla., home, which he hasn’t laid his head on for six weeks.
2. Taking the liberty of adding a few ounces onto his 5-foot-8 frame.

Transitioning quickly from the No. 3 Team Penske car to the dance studio, Castroneves was the most physically fit of the original 13 celebrity contestants on “Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars.” The three weeks of rehearsals with professional dance partner Chelsie Hightower though were long and arduous. In fact, Castroneves lost weight to the point that he had to secure his 2009 Indianapolis 500 Champion of Champions ring to his finger with tape.

“In rehearsal, that ring kept flying away,” he said.  “I can’t lose this ring.  I’m proud of it. I believe I’m about 143 (pounds) right now and it’s been seven years since I have been that weight so I have to put it back again.”

He’ll rest easier in the coming weeks after he and Hightower were eliminated from the celebrity ballroom dance competition following Week 3.

Click it: Watch the dances of Team Helio

"I'm getting ready to go on vacation,” said Castroneves, who won the Mirror Ball Trophy in the fall of 2007. “That is always good for the mind. My vacation will be sleeping in my own bed."

Castroneves and Hightower, who were guests on ABC’s “The View” on Oct. 11, tied for fourth on judges’ scores with their Quickstep performance earlier in the week. However, they were the second couple during the results show to be eliminated (judges total scores and viewer voting carry equal weight).

"As a competitor, yes, you’re disappointed because you did your best but you understand sometimes when you win and when you lose and you have to deal with it," Castroneves said. "As a person, I got a great opportunity to come over here and have fun and I’m thankful for having an incredible partner to teach me how to dance free, which was the best part. I have no regrets. 

“Now I’m going to go back to racing, get ready for the next thing.

Hightower, who took a ride in an Indy Racing Experience two-seater with Mario Andretti at the wheel at Auto Club Speedway in mid-September, said she’ll be in his cheering section at the Indianapolis 500 in May.

He shied away from picking a favorite among the nine celebs to win the competition.  The remaining stars picked the dances for their competition in Week 4 (Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC).

“Everyone is awesome.  It’s hard for me just to say one person.  I get along with everybody and the best man or woman wins this competition,” said Castroneves, who will rejoin the troupe for the final show.