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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: 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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