Agustin Canapino

He may have only finished 12th in the race, but NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Agustin Canapino still was a big winner Aug. 19-20 in his racing return to his native Argentina.

Canapino, 33, raced in the premier Turismo Carretera touring car series at the Autodromo Oscar y Juan Galvez in Buenos Aries, finishing 12th in the Chevrolet fielded by the JP Carrera team in the signature black-and-green colors of JHR and with his NTT INDYCAR SERIES number, 78. He ended up 11.890 seconds behind winner Valentin Aguirre in the 25-lap race.

A packed grandstand welcomed home four-time series champion Canapino with great passion and vigor. Canapino, nicknamed “The Titan” by his legions of fans, also was swarmed for photos and videos everywhere he went at the eight-turn, 3.503-mile natural road course.

“Total party today!” Canapino wrote on Instagram. “Thanks, everyone, for the love!”

Canapino will return to America this week to compete in the next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline on Sunday, Aug. 27 at World Wide Technology Raceway.