segunda-feira, maio 27, 2002
E deu Helinho mesmo!!!
Do Yahoo:
Motor racing-Castroneves confirmed as Indy 500 winner
By Lewis Franck
INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Brazil's Helio Castroneves has been confirmed the winner of the Indianapolis 500 after the Indy Racing League (IRL) rejected an appeal from second-place finisher Paul Tracy.
The ruling, at least for the moment, brings an end to one of the most dramatic and controversial finishes in the race's 86-year history, allowing Castroneves to become the first driver since 1970-71 to claim back-to-back victories at the famed Brickyard.
According to IRL rules, Tracy's team (Team Green) may appeal the decision within five business days.
Over 24 hours after taking the chequered flag in front of 450,000 spectators, the 27-year-old Brazilian was finally able to officially celebrate his win which had turned into the most controversial result in sports since the figure skating scandal at the Winter Olympics.
Only this dispute centred around a matters of milliseconds and yellow lights, not subjective judging.
The wild finish, to what had been a relatively clean race, occurred on lap 199 of the 200-lap race when Tracy made a dramatic move to pass Castroneves.
At the same time, Frenchman Laurent Redon and 1996 winner Buddy Lazier became entangled half a lap behind and crashed into the wall, bringing out the yellow flag.
Castroneves and his team-owner Roger Penske maintained that Tracy had made an illegal pass under the caution and the victory should stand.
After a three hour meeting, at which both drivers and team owners provided data to support their own arguments, the IRL ruled the original result would stand.
"Team Green did not present anything to convince us to change their mind," said IRL vice president of operations Brian Barnhart.
Protests of finishes at the Indy 500 are rare but not unprecedented.
In 1981 Bobby Unser took the chequered flag but Mario Andretti was later declared the winner after filing a protest.
Five months later the victory was returned to Unser following a successful appeal.
posted by
Viviane at 10:36:00 PM
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