IndyCar News and Notes

Helio Castroneves placed on probation by IndyCar.

In this April 23, 2014 IndyCar News and Notes, AR1 Columnist Brian Carroccio discusses the decision by IndyCar to place driver Helio Castroneves on probation.

I was genuinely shocked yesterday by the reaction of many regarding IndyCar's decision to place Team Penske driver Helio Castroneves on probation. Of course, a Tweet from Castroneves' account came out during the Long Beach race, and I quote

"IndyCar officials continuing not punishing some drivers and giving green flag during an accident."

And I suppose the text of the Tweet, which apparently Castroneves' sister composed, was relatively harmless, simply questioning the allocation of penalties by the series. However, the message was accompanied by a "thumbs down" covering the INDYCAR logo, which on the surface may also seem harmless, and I suppose, a little humorous.

Now, I believe Castroneves' claim that his sister composed the Tweet. Such a scenario is more than plausible, as drivers regularly have others update their social network accounts, particularly during races. However, I do not think that absolves Helio Castroneves from the responsibility of what is posted from his account, and am befuddled how anyone could claim otherwise.

Also, I'm not advocating some sort of measure where drivers be sanctioned and fined for every little controversial or non-conforming opinion they may have. If Castroneves (or his sister) want to disagree with a call made by IndyCar, fine. But the notion that IndyCar is operating some sort of police state, or is censoring drivers by placing Castroneves on probation, is how do I say this nicely: moronic.

See, the Tweet from Castroneves' account didn't just criticize a call, or claim Helio got a raw deal. Rather, the Tweet clearly and without impunity made IndyCar the source of attack, the object of ridicule. It was the IndyCar emblem that was smeared and turned around on the series. IndyCar, where Castroneves and many others make a living was deliberately targeted with clear intent to discredit. Yes, Castroneves is employed by Team Penske, but if there is no IndyCar, there are no races that pay prize money, and no career driving a race car. And if Castroneves, who has earned millions racing in the series, his sister, or whoever can simply criticize the series, and smear its emblem without repercussion, and flippantly discredit it's race sanctioning, then what on earth are the rest of us suppose to think of the series?

This is why anyone who thinks IndyCar is being a stick-in-the-mud, by simply telling a driver to air a grievance by not impugning the IndyCar product, needs to be discounted as a serious thinker. And if you're having trouble absorbing this message, allow me a suggestion.

Try tweeting the emblem of an entity from which you make a living covered in a "thumbs down" caption. Or heck, have your sister do it. See how well that's received. Call me crazy, call me old-fashioned, call me a stick-in-mud, but know this: you won't call me wrong, in saying you'd be lucky a week later, if probation was all you received.

Let me say, I am not vilifying Castroneves. He (and/or his sister) made a mistake. Both owned up to the mistake, have apologized for it, have been sanctioned appropriately and life will go on. If anything, both handled the matter in a transparent, professional manner.

I am however, very much dismissing the idiotic notion that IndyCar is somehow operating a police state, as some suggest. They are simply protecting their product, their brand, as they should.

Yes, in this case, IndyCar acted appropriately, which that is something everyone who is invested in the sport in any capacity, Castroneves included, should be thankful for.

Brian Carroccio