Helio Castroneves has been fined $30,000 and put on probation for the rest of the IZOD IndyCar Series season – two races – for calling Chief Stewart Brian Barnhart a "circus clown."
This is $20,000 less than Paul Tracy was fined for calling Champ Car Chief Steward Chris Kniefel the same thing, which is puzzling considering that Constroneves also went on to accuse Barnhart of favouritism and biased officiating.
Castroneves had a meltdown on Twitter and in a newspaper column he authored after he was penalized at the recent race in Japan for passing a car when a yellow flag was being waved. Instead of finishing seventh, he was dropped to 22nd in the order, which cost him cash and points.
His financial penalty is the same as Penske teammate Will Power’s, who was fined and put on probation for flipping the double bird in Barnhart’s direction at the conclusion of the race in New Hampshire, which got the green flag while it was raining and caused Power (and others) to crash.
As was the case with Power, Castroneves was given the option - instead of paying the fine - of "community service," in which the driver would make public appearances on behalf of IndyCar and tell the world what a bad boy he’d been.
My guess is that Helio will cut a cheque.
NASCAR Chase candidate Matt Kenseth’s wife Katie crashed Monday while practicing for a charity race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. She broke her shoulder blade, which hurts. She won’t be driving any more racing cars any time soon. "She’s retired," Kenseth told his fans.
Charlotte TV station WCNC put up a photo gallery of the accident and the aftermath and you can look at it here.
Ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, announcing an NFL game last Sunday where Danica Patrick was standing on the sidelines, said this: "Hard to believe someone so pretty can be that tough and drive that fast."
Oh?
Watch the video here.
The fine on Helio Castroneves should have been much more severe. His comments comparing Brian Barnhart to a circus clown are unfairly disparaging to hard working, dedicated professionsl circus clowns everywhere.
Posted by: Greg W. | 09/28/2011 at 08:42 AM
Word has it clowns everywhere are boycotting Dancing with the Stars. Something about drivers with two left feet.
Posted by: APP | 09/28/2011 at 08:58 PM