2016 Verizon IndyCar SeriesOpen Wheel

[TheBigMan045]

Surfers will be much more competive than ever with nothing like a championship on the line, hopefully Vitor Meira can get a more competive ride next year as he is one of the guys who just cant get a lucky break. Did any one notice that in the last race on the run to the flag Brisco was helping Castroneves by sharing the draft and where was Wheldon? Nowhere as usual, for someone who is an equal car to Dixon (GO KIWI!) and who has a reputation that includes most wins in a season, shouldnt he be up near the front?

 

[Cap'n Jack]

The 2008 season is still not over, there's a little race on a little street course in Southern Australia that's coming up in late October.

*Gets technical*

It'd say the race is on a little street course on the eastern side of Australia, almost north-eastern.


I can't wait for the race, the Indy 300 has been one of my favourite motorsport events for a while. A fun, party atmosphere mixed with some good racing is always good!

 

[TS]

RIP: Paul Newman 1925-2008

Actor, racer, philanthropist and all-around great human being Paul Newman has died. Newman was 83 years old and is believed to have been diagnosed with cancer in 2007. His acting career spanned more than half a century and included roles such as "Fast" Eddie Felson, Cool Hand Luke, and Louisana Gov Earl Long among many, many others. His Newman's Own food line has raised more than $200 million for charity. His partnership with Carl Haas owning race teams in Can-Am and Indy Cars lasted over 25 years and Newman himself won countless races in various national and international classes. Last month, Newman, a longtime Connecticut resident, went out to Lime Rock Park to take some final laps in his Corvette. We'll miss you Paul!

 

[VNAF Ace]

Paul Newman 1925 - 2008

Rest in peace Mr. Newman.

 

[JohnBM01]

Link: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/castroneves-pleads-innocent-in-tax-fraud-case (two pages)

The championship may have been decided, but one very popular IndyCar star had a few tough corners to navigate earlier today. Helio Castroneves was convicted of tax evasion and fraud. His bond was set at $10M and surrendered his passport. The seven charges against him carries a maximum of 5 years in prison should he be convicted. Also involved are Kati Castroneves (his sister) and his lawyer, Alan Miller.

Guys... how serious of a tailspin could this be if Castroneves is indeed convicted and sent away to jail?

 

[RACECAR]

We may never see him again if convicted, plain & simple. I'm seriously finding it hard to believe that this same Happy and smiling guy I've seen and watch for the last five months may(or May not)be now a convicted Felon. If this is true, I just have to know one thing: Why Helio, Why?

 

[JohnBM01]

Think about it like this. This year will get a lot tougher for Helio Castroneves if he is sent away to the slammer. The guy just couldn't buy a break, getting a lot of second place finishes. You can have bad seasons in racing. But no race is harder than racing to clear your good name in a situation like this to resume your livelyhood and your life and your career. I'm somewhat pulling for Helio here. Hope he can be cleared of all of this and climb back into a race car and go racing.

 

[TS]

Helio posted his bail of $10 million, and was permitted by the courts to take place in today's Petit Le Mans race. But because he surrenered his passport, he won't be able to take part in the race at Surfer's later this month.

His bond was set at $10M and surrendered his passport. The seven charges against him carries a maximum of 5 years in prison should he be convicted. Also involved are Kati Castroneves (his sister) and his lawyer, Alan Miller.

If you think Miller's in some deep you know what, Casey Mears and Jimmie Johnson better want to watch themselves because Miller is also their taxman/attorney. (but Johnson doesn't have Miller attend to his issues directly)

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/arti...ed_about_Alan_Miller_tax_evasion_charges.html

Guys... how serious of a tailspin could this be if Castroneves is indeed convicted and sent away to jail?

The indictment charges that Castroneves illegally concealed income from Penske Racing Inc. and the Brazilian firm Coimex International S.A. Neither company is charged with any wrongdoing.

In Penske's case, prosecutors say Castroneves was to be paid $5 million in exchange for rights to use his name, likeness and image. The money was initially supposed to go to a Panamanian shell corporation, but then was diverted to a Dutch entity called Fintage Licensing.

Fintage was set up as a "deferred royalty plan" in which U.S. tax payments can be delayed, which is only legal if Castroneves had no relationship or control over it. Prosecutors say he did have control and that false statements were made to Penske about the relationship.

Coimex paid Castroneves $600,000 between 1999 through 2001 for sponsorship contracts, but he only paid taxes on about $50,000, prosecutors said.

Katuicia Castroneves transferred some of the hidden money to a Swiss bank account she controlled with her brother, court documents show.

That's probably all the jury needs to convict him of tax evasion.

 

[KAMKA-Z]

Link: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/castroneves-pleads-innocent-in-tax-fraud-case (two pages)

The championship may have been decided, but one very popular IndyCar star had a few tough corners to navigate earlier today. Helio Castroneves was convicted of tax evasion and fraud. His bond was set at $10M and surrendered his passport. The seven charges against him carries a maximum of 5 years in prison should he be convicted. Also involved are Kati Castroneves (his sister) and his lawyer, Alan Miller.

Guys... how serious of a tailspin could this be if Castroneves is indeed convicted and sent away to jail?

Wait a minute. He's been indicted; not convicted yet. It could suck for him though. Don't **** with the IRS.


On another subject. Does anyone on this thread besides me think it might be benneficial to start a brand new thread for 2009? 35 pages of posts from the last several years is a lot to sort through at times.

 

[TS]

On another subject. Does anyone on this thread besides me think it might be benneficial to start a brand new thread for 2009? 35 pages of posts from the last several years is a lot to sort through at times.

St. Pete is still quite a few months away.

Somebody will get to it probably.

 

[KAMKA-Z]

St. Pete is still quite a few months away.

Somebody will get to it probably.

Yes, when the time is more appropriate anyway. Besides, we still have Surfer's on the schedule for 08.

 

[VNAF Ace]

On another subject. Does anyone on this thread besides me think it might be benneficial to start a brand new thread for 2009? 35 pages of posts from the last several years is a lot to sort through at times.

No need to start a new thread. I'll just rename this thread to 2009 IndyCar Series after the last race in Australia. I like how we have one dedicated IndyCar thread going all the way to the 2006 CCWS/ICS seasons.

 

[JohnBM01]

A certain bail provision will allow Castroneves to race at Surfer's Paradise. So he still gets to race according to a headline I saw on ESPNEWS.

I'm sure he must be very happy since he's had these recent rough times.

 

[VNAF Ace]

On another subject... I'm sure many of you have heard that F1 dropped the Canadian GP and essentially abandoned North America. This is a golden opportunity for the IRL to claim North America. I'd love to see the IRL IndyCar Series replace F1 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

 

[JohnBM01]

You know, that's a pretty good possibility. Pretty good considering the series races at one former F1 track- Watkins Glen. The IndyCar Series can put on a show whether on ovals, city streets, or road courses. While a great dream, I don't think it will happen. Still have faith, though.

 

[KAMKA-Z]

On another subject... I'm sure many of you have heard that F1 dropped the Canadian GP and essentially abandoned North America. This is a golden opportunity for the IRL to claim North America. I'd love to see the IRL IndyCar Series replace F1 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Wow, I hadn't heard about that. I went to the Canadian GP back in '87, when they were running turbos. I think Mansell won. Awesome facility, even then. Snap it up IRL! F1 just alienated me even more. Jerks!

You know, that's a pretty good possibility. Pretty good considering the series races at one former F1 track- Watkins Glen.

And the former F1 venue Long Beach. (And Indy but that doesn't count cause they aren't using the road course)

(Hey here's a cool Idea, Put the Nascrap Brickyard 400 on the GP course)

 

[JohnBM01]

No... I don't think a premier oval racing series will sell out (I can't believe I'm saying this) to racing an infield road course. Then again, I'd like to imagine what that would be like! Would they race the F1 course or the MotoGP course?

I almost forgot about Long Beach as a former F1 course. Thanks for bringing that up. If not Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve, then either Mosport or Mont-Tremblant. Most of you know I'm a sucker for Mont-Tremblant.

 

[JohnBM01]

This weekend will be the Surfer's Paradise race. It's all about pride since this will not be a points race. Who you're taking for Surfer's Paradise?

 

[TS]

Will Power, he was pretty outstanding there last year, especially in qualifying being about a second faster than everyone else.

 

[JohnBM01]

Those picking Will Power to do a great job at Surfer's Paradise should smile because Will Power laid down a 1:36.3391 lap during first practice. Be beat out Justin Wilson by 0.2216 seconds. Dario Franchitti rounded out the top three with a lap of 1:36.9904 Danica Patrick was 21st in practice with a fast lap of 1:42.0197. All of this information taken from autosport.com. Find out how your favorite driver did in first practice here: < http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71669 >.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

Qualifying was great fun to watch, especially while half the track was wet and the other half dry. Will Power drove awesomely, he did a great job on getting his 3rd pole at Surfers in a row. Hopefully this time it translates into a win.

 

[VNAF Ace]

2008 Australia GP Starting Lineup
The 2008 Australia GP airs tonight at 10:30 PM EDT on ESPN Classic! The race will re-air tomorrow night at 11:00 PM EDT on ESPN2.

 

[JohnBM01]

The race is on! I'm watching it right now as well as working my college football report. Surfer's Paradise is such an awesome course. It's one of my personal favorite street courses.

Current observations:

* Moraes(?) in wall, forcing first caution
* Will Power leads the race so far leading Ryan Briscoe.
* Lap 11 - back to racing!


And one other observation... ToCA Race Driver 3's version of Surfer's Paradise looks much wider than the course actually is. It's even more narrow in reality than with the virtual version of this track. It's still a great course.

 

[JohnBM01]

Great weekend... now Will Power smacks the wall. Australia's best hope to win this race may just about be out of the race.

 

[RACECAR]

Great weekend... now Will Power smacks the wall. Australia's best hope to win this race may just about be out of the race.

Unless you count Scott Dixon, who was actually born here.

 

[JohnBM01]

Well, Ryan Briscoe is leading right now. A little extra... happy belated 36th birthday to Alex Tagliani. I never realized Tagliani was 36.

 

[nissan tuner]

This is a great track. The IRL is making a mistake by not coming back here next year

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Indy outgrew Surfers' Paradise a long time ago; Fittipaldi's accident years ago should have killed it outright. It's simply too narrow for the speeds the cars travel at; when I stopped watching because I had things to do, five cars had come to a halt an had all but blocked the track at the back end. They got it started again, but the track was barely wide enough for some of the cars to squeez through.

 

[JohnBM01]

Ryan Briscoe wins!!! The Kiwi Scott Dixon is second, and Dallas boy- Ryan Hunter-Reay comes home in third.

 

[RACECAR]

Awesome race. Ryan has really redeemed himself this season and this win just futher cemented my respect. Say, does anyone else think Miami should host some racing again? I missed it when the ALMS raced there in 2003.