Why Helio Castroneves did NOT block at Edmonton!

[FreekyFreezer]

I definitely share with ur opinion, that was just a ridiculous penalty and a wonder that helio didn't hit one of the officials down.

[iamthestog]

Wow what utter bullshit, it's a fucking runway with enough space for half the grid to fit across it, Indycar is fucked in the rulebook, F1 has it right thank God, this kind of rule making makes Indycar look like a joke

[jimmieanddale]

im not an indy car series fan, but i see what ur saying.

[thinksmart5]

this was f'd up call! GO HELIO!!!

[bluebleeder247]

The "lane" to which the rules specify for overtaking is not the actually wheelspan of an Indycar, like you draw out. The "lane" is one side or the other of the yellow divider going into turn 1. Castro, under the rules, DID block Power. It, however, is a silly rule.

[boilermakerdude9]

You clearly have no experience in the IZOD Indycar series. I'm a Penske fan and i love all of their drivers, but Helio DID block Will. Will chose the right path because if notice in the whole race, every single car goes above the yellow line on the run way. The blocking is when Helio and Will are exiting the turn. Helio pushed Will (a.k.a blocking) which caused Will to slow and lose his position. I ultimatey think Dixon should've also been penalized for blocking Power coming into turn 2.

[DavidSkywalker01]

@boilermakerdude9 I can see what you see there, but that was not what was clarified by Brian Barnhart after the race. According to him the block occured as Castroneves was going down the straight and did not yeild the inside line to Power. I could live with the penalty if it had been for the block on the exit to the corner, but that was not the case.

[xcruzrr6]

@boilermakerdude9 You think that's a good rule? You think Dixon should be penalized too? Although he was passing, not blocking? That is the dumbest rule I have ever heard. In what form of racing has there ever been a rule that stated "You have to leave the track wide open and you can't defend your position."? This is why the series is not taken seriously by others. This is why no one watches Indycar. Indy was once badass! If the series folds you can blame rules like this.

[MyTennis2009]

@boilermakerdude9 No, no. I saw a video on indycars youtube channel where somebody explained that the penalty was given for the incident(let's call it an incident) on the straight. Dixon was the one who made Power slow down by taking the inside line in the next turn, nothing wrong with that. If you feel Helio made something wrong on the exit, that wasn't the reason why he got the penalty.

[georgecross85]

The only thing I can say is that this stupid "Indycar" rule just gives the advantage for the one who's overtaking and the one who's defending his position just have to let the car that is behind him, pass!!! frustrating if I were a driver. Let alone that Blocking means, not to let pass another car, but helio gave power all the space you can imagine...absurd!

[jenie0]

Sorry david, can't help you out with your request to offer comments on how this was blocking...quite simply, it wasn't!!!

[MrMikek24]

You all should watch the video "Controversy in Edmonton" (by indycars) this "confusion" will be cleared right up!

[nr2002vidz]

@MrMikek24

i just did, and you oviously didnt watch this video the whole way through because he already went over in this video how the inside lane was left open... all those officials should have lost their jobs that day

[wawwwaaa]

according to the rules, he blocked. However, that rule is horrible and shouldn't be in place.

[sanfrancisco48]

Helio was robbed.

[warmflashkins]

Great Comments, I agree!!

[michiganstopcat]

I love Indy car racing but that call on the blocking has me scratching my head. What were they thinking by taking the win away when I didnt see a block at all. These are the types of calls that turns fans off which is just what Indy car doesnt need.

[bromaxx]

Some of the best races in history involve two drivers going into the corner and one coming out, Villenuve vs Schumacher and Little Al vs Fittapaldi, both race determining / championship level events to name just a couple. Imagine if the outcome of those races had been over-ruled by a steward?

I am definitely not a fan of Castroneves ( the dancing fool) but this is clear cut...bad call, " have at it boys and girls" for the sake of Indy car! ( and F1)

Nice job on the vid and commentary.

[MrMikek24]

Your looking at the wrong corner. HCN blocked on the previous corner by not moving across centre line on the previous (the right hand) corner as described in the drivers meeting.

[Hmkls]

@MrMikek24 Really, What are you talking about?

[Libertyracer]

You can pass on the outside on ovals almost as easily as on the inside and I don't think Indycars inside lane blocking rule applies on ovals.

HCN was moving inside driving in his mirrors dependent upon where Power was going. If Power had driven into the crazy dusty inside line you illustrated in your video he would never have been able to make the corner with any speed and would have been passed or hit from the outside. Indycars rule says you CAN'T BE THERE at all and he WAS so its blocking.

[Libertyracer]

If Power had taken the normal outside line Helio would have been crawling at half speed in the corner when Power arrived there probably except realistically if Power HAD widened his line earlier HCN would have also since he was clearly driving in his mirrors blocking him.

[Libertyracer]

@Libertyracer Everyone knows you have to swing wide to make corners as they both did to some extent after Power gave up trying to pass on the inside line which was guaranteed to Power by Indycars new rule which REALISTICALLY speaking was not available to him because Helio was in it. If Power had tried to swing into that crazy inside line HCN might also have moved into it based on his moves mimicking Powers since HCN was driving in his mirrors blocking.

[Larrymarx]

Hi Luke,,, I mean David.... Nice Job on your narration and illustration... I have to agree with you... It's a first for me.... When does holding your line becomes an infraction.... doesn't make sense... I watched that race !! LM

[bnasty699]

He knew power had a run so he forced himself to miss the apex but he saved himself from taking out him AND power bull shit call

[memformem]

Didn't the Brian Barnhart video illustrates the rule that Helio broke? Your understanding of this rule seems a little off. Good video work though. I also appreciated the way Helio used his PR magic to bounce back from this. Hey.. what's racing without some controversy :)

[xXDsulliDXx]

castroneves moves in on will power. they are on a fucking airport runway with tons of room. castroneves could of stayed right and gave will room to go around but he didn't he pushed will left into the wall. AKA (BLOCKING). And of corse any castroneves fan is going to say he didn't block. every fan of Helio is so for stuck up his ass its crazy they all think he is the best driver but and the end he just complains all the time. As you can see at the end of the race.

[naildeath]

I see your point! However as i understand the rules you are not allowed to block! The move was defensive! I saw an interview with Barnhart, which he said to the drivers, in the drivers briefing that if you are in that half of the track it would be considered blocking. I think due to the width of the track and the inside being dirty . The problem is the rules! Allow a driver to pick a line so that he can defend but don't let him weave back across if he's overtaking on the outside!

[UncleDeluxe]

I don't like Helio, but I definitely agree that call was B.S.

[eaw275]

It is freaking racing!!!! If you are in the lead, block away. If you are 3 laps down and blocking, well that is stupid. This rule is stupid. I do not think he was blocking as much as trying to force Powers out of his draft. Blocking is when you chop someone off. Stupid rule, stupid racing league...I dream of CART!

[Mathieu79GTR]

thanks for your video

as you said helio did not block

it is will power how did not chose the inside line to pass

what a shame !!!

[22j77]

What's wrong? That was absolutely perfect! He didn't even change lanes! Will Power just made a bad mistake FOLLOWING Castroneves! He had all the rights to curse them suckers after taking away his win!

[TheGirlygirl109]

I'm with you I saw no blocking whatsoever. From my point of view the only reason they could call it blocking is if they are judging him on moving to avoid the apex. judging it from Will Power's move on Ryan Brisco was nothing like what Helio attempted here. My thoughts on it is that Will had enough room on the inside line to make a pass and he failed to make a move on the inside of Helio. In my mind It shouldn't be called a penalty based on him driving on the inside of a turn of the corner.

[mildlyintoxicated27]

I really appreciate this review of the events that occured at edmonton, not just some fanboy ranting. For this, sir, i applaud you. (even though my spelling sucks)

[KAENLM]

it hurts to see Helio work so hard in this race and get penalized and lose the race because he took the inside on this turn! Helio is just a good racer--did he get placed at all? I feel Helio always wins alot of races--I always root for the under dog--but to see Helio so upset makes me upset!! I hope Helio can move on from this--or either fight the judgement (if he can)--I am from Indianapolis. I just learned of this--Thanks for posting this!

[IronsidesX]

Even Will Power disagreed with the call.

[Buckeye1403]

He did NOT block.... If you actually whatch at one point helios car gets just a bit loose. So basically wht I get from this is that Brian Barnhart wants thake the racing out of the Indy Racing League. Also I think that they might have been trying to ride the coat tails of Ganassi's trifecta. Not only did he sweep the big 3 he swept the weekend. More press for the IRL. I called the IRL public relations office and let them know i cancelled my tickets and hotel to Mid Ohio and Kentucky..... BOYCOTT

[MrDuzaman]

This is almost as bad as the World Cup call that took a hard earned goal away from the U.S. Good video.

[pfire32]

If you watch this at about 1:18, Helio stays to the inside and Will Power stays to the inside because he intends to go for the pass on Helio. You will see ALL of the other cars going to the outside prior to the braking point which Brian Barnhart clearly explained, and is explained in the drivers meetings each race. If you don't like the rule, thats simple to understand. But why is that rule in place? Is it competetive or safety? I don't know for sure...but its the rule and Helio knew it

[sami0812]

Go watch the German Grand prix, thats real assault. Indycar looks bad at the moment, but what happened to Felipe Massa was an absolute joke.

[DavidSkywalker01]

@sami0812 Yeah Massa got screwed too but by his own team, not the stewards.

[sami0812]

@DavidSkywalker01 Yeah true, i'm so pissed about it. Anyway, i like to watch indy cars on the website, especially the 500, but i don't understand how they defend??

In F1 what castroneves did was hold the inside, but is that blocking in indy??

[DavidSkywalker01]

@sami0812 Apparently so. I was not aware that holding the inside line into a corner was blocking though untill this week. I had alway heard that you could make one defensive move before it was concidered blocking. But apparently not.

[naildeath]

@DavidSkywalker01 Yeah but you want to see some of the past decisions that have been made in F1 have been real shocking!

[Wallmersbacher]

@DavidSkywalker01 Yes, Massa got screwed by his own team, but Will Power is also on Helios' team I thought!?!?!?!?

[gmcjetpilot]

Great video thanks. Barnhart: "We divide the track in half, (in a turn) you can only be on the inside half if you are over taking. If you are on the inside half while being overtaken you are blocking?"

.

This does not make sense in this context at all. If you are on the inside already (because you are forced) and some one tries to pass on the outside or comes down into the inner half of the track, too bad. IT HAD NO AFFECT ON THE RACE EXCEPT Powell let Dixon get 2nd. Helio was in front.

[dabug7]

i read the news and that barnhart guy talks about splitting the track in half or something like that.

i don't see a block personally. that's a road race and was held on such an empty track....why not let them just race. i'm so sure everybody on the track at that moment has done something like that in their career. or may be even more defensive then Helio did.

i don't know man. racing is racing.....penalty for playing defensive is crazy.

no defensive driving in Oval does make sense thou

[legosrock38]

ya he stayed straight

[nascar865]

i agree it was bull shit even tho i like scott dixon and hate penske helio should have one