Scott Dixon Wins Edmonton as Helio Goes Berserk Over Penalty

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Scott Dixon won a controversial Honda Edmonton Indy on Sunday after Helio Castroneves crossed the finish line first, but was penalized for blocking his teammate.

An enraged Castroneves, who ended up 10th, stormed from his car after the race to yell at IndyCar officials and grabbed Indy Racing League security chief Charles Burns by the lapels of his shirt, shaking him.

After cooling down somewhat, Castroneves told a TV interviewer, "I have nothing smart to say. The only thing I can say is talk to my attorneys."

Castroneves took the lead from Team Penske teammate and pole winner Will Power with 18 laps to go in the 95-lap race, but was called for blocking Power when Power tried to pass him on a restart with two laps to go.

With Power blocked by Castroneves, Dixon stormed past him to take second place as they charged toward the finish line.

But the flagman showed Castroneves the black flag, while Dixon received the checkered flag. Power was second, followed by Dario Franchitti, Ryan Briscoe and Ryan Hunter-Reay.

It was Dixon's second victory of the season, but he won this one without ever being the lead car.

"Pretty strange to not run a lap and actually win the race," Dixon said. "But rules are rules, man. It was obvious Will had a pretty good run. The only way to stop him was blocking."

As Dixon and his team began to celebrate the victory, Castroneves jumped from his car and yelled at an IRL official, then removed his helmet, marched across the infield to the flagstand, and began gesturing, pointing and yelling at the flagman.

When Burns, a former Indiana state trooper, approached him, Castroneves grabbed him by the lapels with both hands and shook the official. The much larger Burns held his ground as Penske team director Tim Cindric arrived and pulled his driver away.



Both Cindric and Burns remained with Castroneves, who ran his hands through his head in frustration. Another Penske Racing official later led Castroneves away from the scene.

If Castroneves did indeed block Power, his pole-winning teammate, it was one of the milder on-track infractions of the season.

Castroneves held the lead on the restart, and as the green came out on the wide straightaway, Power made a huge arching pass attempt on the outside of Castroneves.

Power did get alongside Castroneves, but no further, and Castroneves still held his line. Power finally had to give up on the effort, and in doing so lost second to Dixon.

"It's just ridiculous," Castroneves told a Versus network interviewer. "I never moved off my line. I actually gave room to him outside."

Asked what he meant with his remark about his attorneys, Castroneves said, "I'm being sarcastic."

Power himself said, "I would say a black flag is a pretty harsh penalty, to be honest. But it is what it is right now."

But Power did say he was blocked. "I understand Helio's position. He's leading the race. I got a run on him and he blocked me."

As it turned out, that was only the beginning of the drama.

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