Castroneves begs for leniency

After his outrageous behavior on Sunday, Helio Castroneves is now begging like a puppy dog for the IRL to not hammer him hard with a large fine or make him sit out a race or two.

A subdued Helio Castroneves asked for forgiveness Monday in the aftermath of his emotional outburst following the Izod IndyCar Series race the previous day in Edmonton, Alberta.

Castroneves worked himself into a tirade after being called for blocking and stripped of a victory late in the Honda Indy Edmonton. The Brazilian charged, grabbed and shook two IndyCar Series officials.

Punishment of some kind is expected following a review of the incident by IndyCar officials. Castroneves asked for leniency.

"We were among friends and certainly everybody knows each other," he said. "I hope (series officials) understand the situation as I disagreed with the call.

"I was not confronting any official; I was asking for (chief steward) Brian Barnhart because they all have radios. No one was trying to reach him, and I got really frustrated."

Watching replays of the outburst was painful, the three-time Indianapolis 500 winner said.

"I let my emotions get the best of me; I was really outside of myself," he said. "I like a good show, but that was not a good show."

Castroneves does want answers, however, particularly about officiating consistency. Unlike Will Power, who said Castroneves blocked him, Castroneves does not think drivers in the series know what is permissible and what's not.

"I know I did not block. I did not use any force, and I did not impede the progress of anybody," he said. "Will almost passed me."

Barnhart said the rules are clear, and it was ironic that for the first time in his 14-year tenure as chief steward, he allowed that portion of the prerace drivers meeting to be videotaped.

"We divide the track into halves, and you are not allowed to take the inside half when someone is trying to pass you," Barnhart said. "(Castroneves) didn't take that line (in the first corner) earlier in the race. In fact, in the first 92 laps he didn't run down there a single time.

"You can't take the passing lane away from people. He did that, and that's blocking." Indy Star