Castroneves’ Victory Is Upheld

To the surprise of few, Tony George announced Wednesday that Helio Castroneves still was the winner of the Indianapolis 500, rejecting an appeal by Team Green on behalf of its driver, Paul Tracy.

Castroneves had been declared the winner several hours after the race May 26, Indy Racing League officials ruling that Roger Penske’s driver had been leading when a yellow light was displayed after an accident on Lap 199 of the 200-lap race.

Tracy and his car owner, Barry Green, maintained that Tracy had passed Castroneves for the lead before the caution light was displayed. Passing is not allowed during caution periods and Tracy was ordered back to second place.

Green and Penske met with IRL officials during an all-day hearing June 17 in an attempt to determine which car was leading at the moment the yellow light appeared, Castroneves’ No. 3 or Tracy’s No. 26.

George, president of the IRL, was the sole arbitrator in the appeal, raising the likelihood that the 11-page decision will be met with some skepticism.

For instance, if George had ruled Tracy the winner, it would have been a slap in the face to Brian Barnhardt, George’s vice president of operations and chief steward of the 500, who had declared Castroneves the winner on race day. And if Tracy, who drives in the rival CART series--except for Indy--had been ruled the winner, that would have deprived the IRL of having the reigning Indy 500 winner at its other races.

“To second-guess the officials, either for calling a yellow caution flag or for their placement of the order of the cars, is not allowed under the rules and for good reason,” George said, citing Rule 11.2 of the IRL rule book. “Judgment calls must be final, and that is the only way to conduct a motorsports race.”

To which Green responded, “No one has proved to me that we finished second and, frankly, if, as Tony says, everything comes down to a judgment call and that call is not subject to appeal, then what’s the use in even having a rule book.”

Tracy said: “I’m disappointed but, honestly, not terribly surprised. My bank account may not show it, and my face may not be on the Borg-Warner Trophy--yet--but in my heart I know I won the race.”