Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Spoiler Alert: 2009 Indianapolis 500 race results]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/25/spoiler-alert-2009-indianapolis-500-race-results/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/25/spoiler-alert-2009-indianapolis-500-race-results/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/25/spoiler-alert-2009-indianapolis-500-race-results/#commentsFiled under:


2009 Indy 500 - Click above for high-res image gallery

On Saturday we asked you in a poll if you care about the Indianapolis 500. The number one response with 40% of the vote was, "I never cared in the first place." Well, at least one of us here at Autoblog cared enough to watch the race on TV yesterday, but that couldn't stop long stretches of napping from eating up up dozens of laps at a time. A few interesting things happened while I was awake, including perennial Indy bridesmaid Tony Kannan crashing at the Brickyard for the third time in eight appearances. I was also awoken late in the race by another crash, this time between Vitor Meira and rookie Raphael Matos. The two collided on Turn 1 and Meira's car ended up sliding along the wall on its side. We later learned the veteran driver had broken two vertebrae in his back, while Matos escaped with just a bruised knee. This isn't NASCAR, though, and we're not supposed to watch for the crashes, so I downed some caffeine after that to stay alert until the race's conclusion. Read on after the jump to find out who won this year's running of the 2009 Indianapolis 500.


Gallery: 2009 Indianapolis 500

Continue reading Spoiler Alert: 2009 Indianapolis 500 race results

Spoiler Alert: 2009 Indianapolis 500 race results originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 May 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danica patrickDanicaPatrickfeaturedhelio castronevesHelioCastronevesindianapolis 500Indianapolis500indy 500Indy500Mon, 25 May 2009 14:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Helio Castroneves acquitted on six counts of tax evasion]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/helio-castroneves-acquitted-on-six-counts-of-tax-evasion/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/helio-castroneves-acquitted-on-six-counts-of-tax-evasion/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/helio-castroneves-acquitted-on-six-counts-of-tax-evasion/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Helio Castrovenes has been acquitted of tax evasion and avoided a six-year jail sentence after a Miami jury deliberated on the case over six days. Castroneves, the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and Dancing with the Stars alumni, was accused of six counts of tax evasion over the course of five years. Castroneves' sister and business manager, Katiucia Castroneves was also acquitted on her own tax evasion charges, along with one conspiracy count, and Helio's lawyer, Alan Miller, also avoided six years in prison when he was acquitted of a conspiracy count and three charges of tax evasion.

[Source: AP | Image: Darrell Ingham/Getty]

Helio Castroneves acquitted on six counts of tax evasion originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquittedHelio CastronevesHelioCastronevestax evasionTaxEvasionFri, 17 Apr 2009 14:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Castroneves gets court date, IndyCar season in jeopardy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/castroneves-gets-court-date-indycar-season-in-jeopardy/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/castroneves-gets-court-date-indycar-season-in-jeopardy/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/castroneves-gets-court-date-indycar-season-in-jeopardy/#commentsFiled under: ,

IndyCar great Helio Castroneves is in the legal fight of his life, and the timing couldn't be worse (like seven felony counts ever come at a good time). Castroneves goes on trial for tax evasion charges on March 2 in Miami, just one month before the IndyCar season begins in St. Petersberg, Florida.

Castroneves was indicted by the IRS on October 2 along with his sister/business manager and his lawyer, and the list of charges is substantial. Castroneves is going up against six tax evasion counts and one count of conspiracy with up to 35 years of jail time. Team Penske would undoubtedly love for the two-time Indy 500 champ to be free and clear of these allegations, but the successful race team is in a holding pattern due to its star racer's quandary. Helio's fame from racing and Dancing with the Stars will turn the case into a very big deal, and the courts will handle the case as such. That could mean a very lengthy trial for Helio and his crew, and a potentially embarrassing situation for Team Penske.

[Source: Auto Week | Image: Robert Cianflone/Getty]

Castroneves gets court date, IndyCar season in jeopardy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Helio Castroneves has known only success in pretty much everything he's ever attempted, whether it be open-wheel racing or his fancy footwork on Dancing with the Stars. But the Brazilian-born driver is going to need more than quick feet and a knack for racing to get the Internal Revenue Service off his back. The two-time Indy 500 champ, along with his sister/business manager and lawyer, is in a world of legal hurt after being indicted by the IRS on six counts of tax evasion, which could send the talented driver to prison for up to 35 years. Castroneves was allegedly using an offshore bank account to hide millions of dollars from the U.S. government, which is a really bad idea, especially if you get caught. He received a $1 million driver agreement and $5 million licensing agreement from Penske racing for 2000-2002, and he allegedly stuffed the $5 million into an offshore account via a deferred royalty plan for which he wasn't eligible. For its part, the IRS seems intent on making an example out of Castroneves, saying "This case sends a clear message that the IRS is committed to vigorously enforcing the lax laws and stopping offshore tax evasion."

[Source: Market Watch, Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty]

Helio Castroneves indicted on tax evasion charges originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Click above image for high-res gallery of Grand Prix of Sonoma

Motor racing is, of course, highly competitive, and the logistics highly complicated. The higher the level of racing, the more competitive and the more complicated. But racing fans expect to see it duked out on the track, not on the way there. That's why it was so disappointing when the transporter carrying Penske's Indy racing team to Infineon (formerly known as Sears Point) in Sonoma, California, went up in flames on the interstate.

For any other team, even a lesser incident would have called the curtain on their race weekend. But as we reported on Thursday, Penske has a history of turning adverse circumstances like these into victory. Was the team able to perpetuate the legacy, or did it succumb to the circumstances? For the sake of those who have this past weekend's Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County cued up on TiVo, we'll keep the results after the jump. Follow along to read on.

Gallery: IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Sonoma


Continue reading Penske Racing: to Infineon and Beyond (SPOILER ALERT)

Penske Racing: to Infineon and Beyond (SPOILER ALERT) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>helio castronevesHelioCastronevesinfineonpenskepenske briscoepenske castronevespenske infineonpenske sears pointpenske sonomaPenskeBriscoePenskeCastronevesPenskeInfineonPenskeSearsPointPenskeSonomaryan briscoeRyanBriscoesears pointSearsPointsonomaTue, 26 Aug 2008 09:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Long Beach Grand Prix: People Gallery]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-people-gallery/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-people-gallery/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/22/long-beach-grand-prix-people-gallery/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for high-res gallery from this weekend's LBGP

American open-wheel racing just had a pretty big weekend, in case you missed it. While one era was beginning in Japan, another was ending at America's Monte Carlo. With reunification finally about to commence, the last Champ Car (nee CART) race ever was held at the street course in downtown Long Beach. While we've already told you the outcome, we also wanted to share some more photos. Although the race should be back on the schedule for '09, this weekend's race was truly the end of an era.

After 25 years of Champ Cars and their predecessors, next year's race will bring us a series that has a female driver who is an honest-to-goodness winner. And not only is she a winner (and a part-time swimsuit model), but she is pretty hardy too. After winning the race at Motegi, she and unfortunate runner-up Helio "Dancing with the Stars" Castroneves hopped on a plane and made it back to LAX and the LBGP by the time things wrapped up on Sunday afternoon.

While we didn't get any pics of Danica or Helio, we did manage to capture a few dozen shots of some of the drivers (mostly ALMS and Champ Car), and a few of the models too. Click below to check out some of the people that made this race weekend a memorable one.

All photos Copyright (C)2008 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Gallery: Long Beach Grand Prix: People Gallery

Long Beach Grand Prix: People Gallery originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champ carChampCardanica patrickDanicaPatrickhelio castronevesHelioCastronevesIRLlbgplong beachlong beach grand prixLongBeachLongBeachGrandPrixTue, 22 Apr 2008 20:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Danica Patrick wins Indy Japan 300]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/20/danica-patrick-wins-indy-japan-300/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/20/danica-patrick-wins-indy-japan-300/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/20/danica-patrick-wins-indy-japan-300/#commentsFiled under:


Click above to view high-res gallery from Indy Japan 300

The third race of the IRL season and last event before the on set of the merger was history in the making. The Indy Japan 300 was a difficult race to get off the ground though, as rainy conditions cancelled qualifying and caused postponement of the race start.

Twin Ring Motegi will now forever be the site where the first female driver won an Indy Car event. Danica Patrick sealed the deal after passing Helio Castroneves with 2 laps to go in the 200 lap race. The historical event was made possible through excellent planning and strategy on the part of the Andretti Green team. Danica sat in fourth with 4 laps to go, but fuel starvation forced Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan into the pits. Fuel level was also an issue with Castroneves, he was in conservation mode in the final laps. Thanks to the efforts of her crew, Patrick had enough fuel to maintain speed throughout the race and take her first, and hopefully not last, win in the big leagues.

Gallery: Danica Patrick wins Indy Japan 300


[Source: AP]

Danica Patrick wins Indy Japan 300 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdanica patrickDanicaPatrickhelio castronevesHelioCastronevesirlJapan 300Japan300Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy Feet: Helio Castroneves wins <em>Dancing with the Stars</em>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/28/happy-feet-helio-castroneves-wins-em-dancing-with-the-stars-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/28/happy-feet-helio-castroneves-wins-em-dancing-with-the-stars-e/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/28/happy-feet-helio-castroneves-wins-em-dancing-with-the-stars-e/#commentsFiled under:

I'm more of a So You Think You Can Dance man myself, but anytime a big personality from motorsports makes a splash on the small screen's most guilty of pleasures, i.e. reality television, we feel compelled to share. Without further ado, Helio Castroneves has won the fifth season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, beating out fellow finalists Mel B., the scariest of Spice Girls, and Donny Osmond's way too high strung sister, Marie Osmond. The dancing show's finale aired last night, which we didn't watch but felt like we did after reading TV Squad's comprehensive recap. Our apologies if the finale is sitting at home on your TiVo right now, but we promised ourselves way back in September when Castroneves was announced as a contestant that the only way we'd do a post on this show again is if he won. And that's exactly what the two-time Indy 500 winner did. Congrats go to Helio and his partner, Julianne Hough, who was also paired with last season's winner, Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno. We're sensing a trend here.

[Source: TV Squad]

Happy Feet: Helio Castroneves wins Dancing with the Stars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Helio Castroneves will trade laps on the track for rounds on the dance floor, having joined the fifth season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. Having won the Indy 500 twice, what other challenge was left? He'll be paired with Julianne Hough, the professional dancer who won the last season with Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno.

Castroneves' competition will include "Scary Spice" Mel B., Dallas Maverick's owner Mark Cuban, "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather, Marie Osmond, Wayne Newton, and, um, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Jane Seymour.

[Source: Indy Star]

Helio Castroneves on cast of Dancing with the Stars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roger Penske's Porsche RS Spyders will have three-driver lineups for March's ALMS kickoff, the 12 Hours of Sebring. Car #7's regular duo of Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas will be joined by a very familiar name from the Penske stable: Helio Castroneves. The IndyCar driver (and two-time Indy 500 champ) will undoubtedly do his best to snag a season-opening win for the #7 car. If that happens, will "Spider-Man" be able to coax Bernhard and Dumas into a little post-race fence-climbing?

Follow the jump for Porsche's press release detailing what their factory drivers will be up to in 2007.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Helio Castroneves to join Penske Porsche roster for Sebring

Helio Castroneves to join Penske Porsche roster for Sebring originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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