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by Holly Cain

Filed under: IRL

The IZOD IndyCar Series announced Wednesday that the Edmonton road course event scheduled for next summer has been canceled due to a conflict between the city and the race promoters about necessary track improvements.

"We are disappointed that the city and the promoter were unable to reach an agreement on the venue changes,'' the IndyCar Series said in a statement.

"It's unfortunate that in a time when IndyCar is experiencing momentum and growth, the city would want to miss out on the opportunity to be part of it. We've enjoyed our time at Edmonton as the fans there truly embraced Indy car racing. We currently are examining options for our schedule to see if there are opportunities to replace the event.''

The three-year old race was run on a temporary circuit set up on Edmonton's City Centre Airport. Promoters would have to spend approximately $3.2 million (Canadian) to upgrade and repave a different runway.

Scott Dixon won two of the three races in Edmonton, including this year's event which gained international attention when three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves unleashed a post-race tirade and grabbed an IndyCar Series official after being black-flagged for blocking late in the race.

The removal of Edmonton leaves the series with a 15-race schedule that begins March 27 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

IndyCar Series Cancels 2011 Edmonton Race originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: IRL

As Helio Castroneves dominated the IndyCar race at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, an already tight points race tightened even more.

Dario Franchitti finished second, just ahead of series points leader Will Power, but the edge trimmed five points off the 17-point lead Power had coming into this event.

Castroneves, who started from the pole, led 153 laps and won by 4.5 seconds over Franchitti.

Behind Power in third was Ryan Briscoe in fourth, followed by Danica Patrick.

"They gave me a fantastic car," Castroneves said afterwards. "It was awesome. The car was on rails. Every time I wanted to go for it, the car was responding. I am as happy as can be!"

It was the third win of the season and second Motegi victory for Castroneves, who sits third in the title chase, 88 behind Power.

 

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Filed under: IRL

MOTEGI, Japan (AP) -- Brazilian Helio Castroneves claimed the pole position for the Indy Japan as Team Penske drivers dominated Saturday's qualifying session.

Castroneves' lap average of 201.992 mph put him ahead of Ryan Briscoe while series points leader Will Power qualified third as Team Penske took the top three positions.

"I'm very excited the three of us are starting in the top three spots," Castroneves said. "Hopefully, tomorrow we'll finish like this. It was a great effort for the entire team."

Power, who is making his debut at the 2.4 kilometer (1.5 mile) Twin Ring Motegi, holds a 17-point lead over defending series champion Dario Franchitti with two races left and could wrap up the title with a win.

"My goal was to come here and be ahead of the Ganassi guys, especially Dario," Power said. "I've just got to follow these guys tomorrow and keep Dario behind me."

 

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Filed under: IRL

This time, Helio Castroneves was all hugs with IndyCar's security director Charles Burns.

Castroneves won Saturday night's Kentucky Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway after his Penske team made a shrewd call for an extra pit stop during the race's second and final caution period. Just weeks ago, of course, Castroneves was violently shaking Burns after being denied of a win thanks to a last-lap penalty in Edmonton.

"You shouldn't actually interview me, you should interview (Tim Cindric)," Castroneves beamed after the race, crediting the winning call on fuel to Cindric, his race strategist. "It was kind of like rolling the dice, but this guy, he's kind of like the gambler."

Castroneves celebrated with his traditional frontstretch fence climb, and when he returned to the track gave Burns a hug as he walked back to his car.

 

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Filed under: Penske Racing, IRL

Nearly two weeks after a controversial late-race penalty cost him an IZOD IndyCar Series victory, Helio Castroneves told FanHouse.com he still adamantly disagrees with the call and revealed exactly what was going through his mind during an uncharacteristic, post-race tirade.

"For the rest of my life, I will always add one victory when people say how many I have,'' an animated Castroneves said by telephone Thursday from his Miami office.

The three-time Indianapolis 500 winner was placed on probation for the remainder of the season and fined $60,000 after a post-race confrontation in Edmonton on July 26 when he grabbed the collar of a league official.

Castroneves was angry after being called for blocking his Team Penske teammate Will Power while leading the race with three laps to go. He was dropped to 10th in the finishing order despite the fact he was the first car to take the checkered flag and Target Ganassi driver Scott Dixon was awarded the win.

The Penske driver has long been one of the sport's most popular drivers, becoming a household name thanks to his great Indy 500 triumphs (2000-2001, 2009) and championship on the popular television show "Dancing With the Stars."

But the emotional outbursts fans are more accustomed to seeing from the friendly Brazilian involve climbing fences in his trademark "Spiderman" victory celebration, not the sort of tirade following the Edmonton race.

"I really remained quite calm coming into the pits, almost relaxed, feeling like what was done, was done,'' Castroneves said, revealing for the first time exactly what was going through his mind in those minutes after the checkered flag.

 

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Filed under: Penske Racing, IRL

After taking a week to consider the appropriate course of action, the IZOD IndyCar Series has placed three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves on probation for the remainder of the season and fined him $60,000 following a post-race meltdown July 25 in Edmonton, Canada.

Castroneves, the popular driver and former champion of the television show "Dancing With the Stars," was irate after being black-flagged for blocking his Team Penske teammate Will Power on a restart with two laps to go. He refused to come into the pits to serve his penalty then, and after the race grabbed an Indy Racing League (IRL) official by the collar in protest and frustration.

After meeting with Castroneves in Indianapolis Monday, Indy Racing League CEO Randy Bernard issued a statement saying that although he was disappointed in Castroneves' actions, he ruled out a suspension because "we felt suspension would hurt the fans more than anyone else."

Bernard explained, "Fans have paid their hard-earned money to watch the best drivers in the world and many bought their tickets for upcoming events with the expectation of watching Helio. He is a great ambassador for this sport and we know his actions after the race in Edmonton are not indicative of his normal behavior."

 

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Filed under: IRL

After making a split-second decision to black flag leader Helio Castroneves for blocking at the end of the IndyCar race at Edmonton Sunday, Indy Racing League officials are taking their time deciding what to do about his post-race outburst -- a temper tantrum that included grabbing an IRL official with both hands and shaking him.

"IZOD IndyCar Series officials will meet with driver Helio Castroneves next week to further review his actions following the July 25 race in Edmonton," said a news release issued by the sanctioning body Thursday. "Any penalties will be announced after that meeting."

Brian Barnhardt, the IRL's president of competition and racing operations, vigorously defended the sanctioning body's snap decision to black flag Castroneves for blocking teammate Will Power as Power tried to pass on the outside going into and through the first turn after a restart with two laps to go.

But the IRL is obviously taking its time on deliberating and ruling about Castroneves' explosive reaction. In other major sports, such as baseball, simply touching an umpire or referee during an argument brings a swift, automatic suspension.

Castroneves ignored the black flag, which is an order to the pits for consultation, so he did not receive the checkered flag as race leader at the end of the final lap. Scott Dixon, in second behind Castroneves at the end, received the checkers and the victory. Castroneves was docked 20 seconds, a penalty that dropped him to 10th place. Power, who was third in line, was awarded second.

Castroneves stormed over to the flag stand and was gesturing and shouting up at the flagman when IRL security chief Charles Burns approached to try to settle him down. Castroneves grabbed the front of Burns' shirt with both hands and shook him for a moment as Penske Racing team director Tim Cindric intervened. The fiery Brazilian almost instantly regretted his actions and has apologized for his outburst while remaining firm that the blocking penalty was out of line and "absurd."

 

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Filed under: IRL

There's no word yet from the Indy Racing League whether it will penalize star Penske Racing driver Helio Castroneves for his outburst following Sunday's race at Edmonton, a display of temper that included grabbing and shaking an IRL official.

Indy Racing League president of competition and racing operations Brian Barnhart was quoted at the official IndyCar.com website as saying that he won't make any decision until after he talks with Castroneves.

"We've reviewed the videos since we've returned from Edmonton but I haven't had an opportunity to contact him," Barnhart told the website's Dave Lewandowski. "Hopefully, we'll be doing so very shortly. We're extremely disappointed in his behavior post-race but certainly understand his frustrations and emotions. He's a very passionate person and very competitive driver.

"That's still inexcusable to put your hands on an official and abuse the officials the way he did. We'll have a conversation, take his side into consideration as well as what he did, and act appropriately."

The incident occurred at the end of the race, with Castroneves leading on a restart with two laps to go. When the green flag fell, teammate Will Power made a bold, arching move to the outside on the wide racing surface to try to pass Castroneves on the left in the right-hand turn, but failed and lost second place to Scott Dixon.

 

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Filed under: IRL

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Scott Dixon won a controversial Honda Edmonton Indy on Sunday after Helio Castroneves crossed the finish line first, but was penalized for blocking his teammate.

An enraged Castroneves, who ended up 10th, stormed from his car after the race to yell at IndyCar officials and grabbed Indy Racing League security chief Charles Burns by the lapels of his shirt, shaking him.

After cooling down somewhat, Castroneves told a TV interviewer, "I have nothing smart to say. The only thing I can say is talk to my attorneys."

Castroneves took the lead from Team Penske teammate and pole winner Will Power with 18 laps to go in the 95-lap race, but was called for blocking Power when Power tried to pass him on a restart with two laps to go.

With Power blocked by Castroneves, Dixon stormed past him to take second place as they charged toward the finish line.

But the flagman showed Castroneves the black flag, while Dixon received the checkered flag. Power was second, followed by Dario Franchitti, Ryan Briscoe and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

It was Dixon's second victory of the season, but he won this one without ever being the lead car.

"Pretty strange to not run a lap and actually win the race," Dixon said. "But rules are rules, man. It was obvious Will had a pretty good run. The only way to stop him was blocking."

 

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Filed under: IRL, Danica Patrick

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) -- Tony Kanaan overtook Helio Castroneves with 10 laps left and held on to win the Iowa 250 Sunday.

It was the first win since 2008 for Kanaan, who last took the checkered flag in Richmond two years ago. Kanaan had crashed in each of his first three starts at Iowa, but he zipped past Castroneves on lap 240 and cruised to victory by over four seconds.

"I've had three years to think about why I didn't finish. When I came here people kept reminding me of that," said Kanaan, who led for 62 laps. "I never finished, and then I finished. I finished first, so know we have a different story."

Castroneves finished second and E.J. Viso was a career-best third. Penske teammates Ryan Briscoe and pole winner Will Power rounded out the top five.

Danica Patrick finished 10th. Dario Franchitti, a two-time winner in Iowa, had mechanical issues with 50 laps left and finished 18th.

Kanaan started the race 15th, but he moved up quickly and took the lead about halfway through the race. Franchitti took the lead away from Kanaan with a quick pit stop 70 laps from the finish, but his quest for a third win in three starts at Iowa fell apart soon thereafter.

Castroneves moved past Franchitti for the lead, and Franchitti soon went back to pit row when his gear box got stuck. That left the race up to Kanaan and Franchitti, and Kanaan easily moved past Castroneves to pick up his 14th career IndyCar Series win.

 

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