Paul Tracy 2002 Indy Controversy

With Team Green, Tracy returned to the Indianapolis 500 in 2002 for the first time since 1995. A late-race caution flag for a crash appeared at nearly the same time he passed Helio Castroneves for what would have been the race lead. This incident proved controversial due to the lack of evidence from camera angles showing whether or not he was ahead of Castroneves. Debate continued on the issue of whether the caution flag was timed to stop a CART driver beating the regulars of the rival Indy Racing League, which is run by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George. Perhaps as a result of this, he was voted CART's Most Popular Driver Award.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Paul
• Tracy
• 2002
• indy
• 500
• indianapolis
• motor
• speedway
• bumpsnotes
• joseph
• foster
• yt:stretch=16:9

[ilikehotchix]

oh, ans P.S., the rule is ANY yellow light comes on, it's a caution period. Other light were on before the pass. There is PROOF of that.

[ilikehotchix]

i mean ya. Helio won in '01. He also won in '02, as he rightfully should have. For all you who don't know, the drivers have lights in their cars that go off when there is a wreck. So this is probably what happened, crash in turn two, lights go off in helios cockpit, his crewchief tells him "slow down, crash in two," he does, and tracy passes him about SEVEN seconds later. I seriously saw a videro and counted SEVEN seconds between the crash and the pass, ao THERE!

[mad122780]

Blame Tony George it's his fault !

[mad122780]

Blame Tony George it's fault!

[krlumme]

I have been to Indy many times, I go every year. I have yet to see a coution come out within 7 seconds of the incident. Clearly Tracy was caught in a political decision because the cart guys kept coming over and kicking their ass! Besides Helio only got his seat at Penske because we lost another great Canadian race driver in Greg Moore. Moore would probably have been a four time winner by now anyways.

[krlumme]

In my opinion, Helio let off when he saw the yellow. Clearly when he lifts, you can see his speed change in comparison to Paul. At that point, Paul was clearly ahead. So Helio's actions, by lifting, indicates when the race went yellow. At 4:01 of this video, watch, as Helio lifts. Tracy was clearly ahead at that point. Also at around 3:41, Tracy clearly completed the pass, indicating he was already ahead prior to that time frame as it took time to complete the pass.

[krlumme]

In my opinion, Helio let off when he saw the yellow. Clearly when he lifts, you can see his speed change in comparison to Paul. At that point, Paul was clearly ahead. So Helio's actions, by lifting, indicates when the race went yellow. At 4:01 of this video, watch, as Helio lifts. Tracy was clearly ahead at that point. Also at around 3:41, Tracy clearly completed the pass, indicating he was already ahead prior to that time frame as it took time to complete the pass.

[andrewlawrence2209]

To be honest, if anybody steps on the brakes as soon as they see a caution light, they are asking for an accident. I do think that the fact Tracy drove for a CART team may have influenced their decision.

[mathee77]

@ilikehotchix he didn't slow down because that would be way beyond human reaction time. and you have to multiply that time span because someone had to tell him (it is called a spotter). see? oh sorry i forgot, helio is chuck norris, he knew of the caution before it happened. dude seriously, thats BS.

[mathee77]

the fact that the yellow lights saved helios win doesn't make him a better driver. to be honest, tracy won that race, if you guys like it or not. tracy clearly made a great pass there on helio. he would have done it anyways without yellow lights.