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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