Indianapolis 500

2002

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)- His lead evaporating with just over a lap to go, his mirrors and visor smeared with oil, Helio Castroneves saw a blurry yellow flash and feared the worst. Instead of a fuel light, though, it was a timely caution- and prelude to victory.

Castroneves became the first driver in three decades Sunday to win a second straight Indianapolis 500. Disputed though it was, pending an official review, this one was a victory for strategy and survival.

First, he gambled he could finish the last 100 miles without stopping for fuel and fresh tires. Then, some savvy driving helped the 27-year-old Brazilian avoid the troubles that plagued leader after leader before him.

And, finally, he won when fast-closing Paul Tracy's pass on the next-to-last lap was disallowed because it came seconds after the final caution light froze the field in position (video).

"I didn't have the best car out there and I was just trying to keep going, keep out of trouble, keep on the lead lap," Castroneves said.

Castroneves, who never led until lap 177, might not have gotten the opportunity to repeat if Team Penske teammate Gil de Ferran hadn't had some bad luck, bringing out the caution on lap 176 when his left rear tire came off after leaving the pits.

Felipe Giaffone, Tracy and Michael Andretti, all ahead of Castroneves, pitted the next lap, leaving him at the head of the line for the restart on lap 182. Then, it was time for a fuel gamble by Penske team president Tim Cindric.

"I couldn't believe everybody coming in," said Castroneves, who is the first driver ever to win his first two Indy 500 starts. "Cindric and I decided to stay out. I said, 'this is the chance I want'. I had 20 gallons in the car and like 22 laps to go."

Castroneves admitted there was a question whether he would have enough fuel to get to the end.

"I didn't know if I was going to finish or not," he said. "I was almost out of fuel. I couldn't do the victory lap."

Added team-owner Roger Penske: "I was holding my breath, for sure."

There was also the problem of racing around 2 ½ mile oval almost blind at 215 mph after his No. 3 Chevrolet-powered Dallara was sprayed with oil.

"I couldn't see in the mirrors because one guy blew an engine in front of me and they were completely covered in oil," Castroneves said. "When the yellow (light) came on, I thought I was running out of fuel. The guys on the radio said, 'Yellow, yellow, yellow!’. Then Tracy passed me and I was screaming. He passed me on the yellow."

Tracy, driving at Indy for the first time in seven years, did pass Castroneves, but not until after Buddy Lazier and rookie Laurent Redon crashed on the 199th of 200 laps.

"I think it's me that won," Tracy said. "I know I was ahead of him. I passed him, then the yellow came out"

Under IRL rules, no passing is allowed after the yellow flag is displayed and the yellow lights come on around the track. The dispute was whether the caution had already begun before the pass.

"The only reason he passed me is the yellow came on," Castroneves said. "I was protecting a position. He couldn't just pass me. I'm the one who lifted off because of the yellow."

Tracy and team owner Barry Green disagreed adamantly. Asked when he first saw one of the lights around the track that indicate if the track is green or yellow, Tracy said, "I didn't see it until after I was ahead of him. So we're going go look at the tape, so in my mind I'm the winner. But we'll see how it comes out."

After reviewing videotape of the disputed finish, race officials upheld the initial decision, giving Castroneves an official victory nearly three hours after the race had finished.

Castroneves gave Penske his 12th Indy 500 victory and became the first driver since Al Unser Sr. in 1970-71 to win the world's biggest race in consecutive years.

Before the crash, Castroneves did his best to block Tracy, but the Canadian driver, who took second place from Giaffone on lap 197 darted to the outside and drove past Castroneves in turn three just after Lazier and Redon crashed.

Castroneves celebrated Sunday in his traditional way that has earned him the nickname Spiderman: scrambling out of his car on the main straightaway and running across the track to climb the catch fence. Unlike last year, the 64-year-old Penske joined him on the fence.

Tomas Scheckter, an Indy rookie who has yet to complete a race this season, appeared on the way to an unlikely victory. He dominated much of the race until his car suddenly slid up the track and slammed into the new energy-absorbing wall barrier on the 173rd of 200 laps.

As several of the contenders pitted under the ensuing yellow, Castroneves stayed on the track, giving him the lead.

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