Comments on: Helio Must Improve In 2010 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/ Speed is Life Thu, 23 May 2013 03:18:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Paige http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1995 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:41:26 +0000 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1995 Helio just had an off year in 2009. Every driver has them. He’ll be back on top in 2010. I got a big feeling he’ll being winning #4 at Indy and he WILL be a championship contender. And maybe the it will finally be his big moment as Mr. Champion.

]]> By: billytheskink http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1980 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:46:54 +0000 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1980 How was a 3-time CART Champion never a threat at a championship?

No championships post-Sanair, but Mears was sqaurely in the championship hunt in 1989, and wound up second to Fittipaldi.

]]> By: James http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1978 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:57:15 +0000 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1978 I’m late on this, but I’ll type it anyway.

From a historical standpoint, the Indy 500 is the main accomplishment which gets remembered. I never hear AJ Foyt referred to as 6-time USAC National Champion. I only hear 4-time Indy 500 winner. You have to be a hard-core open-wheel fan to remember the series winner stats. But Indy500 winners, particularly multiple winners, are more commonly known. And you know when the driver’s obit is printed, it’ll say (as of now) 3-time Indy500 Winner Helio Castroneves, regardless of anything else he does.

I’m not sure what Penske’s personal priorities and plans are, but my gut feeling is that the prestige of being a 500 winner, both from a sponsorship side and a bragging-rights side, far outweighs anything he’d get for winning the Indycar series.

Point being: he’ll run Helio as long as he things Helio has a good chance of winning the Indy 500. And since he’s already won 3, there’s a very good chance he’ll win 4 if he stays with Penske. Winning 3 times means he knows how to win it. Having done it recently means he hasn’t forgotten. Right now I think Helio is more likely to end his career with 4 wins than Tony Kanaan will have won once (and I’m a TK fan).

Unless Helio seriously unravels next year (on or off the track), I can’t imagine Penske dropping him.

]]> By: Brad http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1958 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:15:13 +0000 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1958 I would disagree that Roger Penske only cares about Indy. He is a racer at heart. He is just like every other team owner and wants to win as many races as possible. If he wins Indy thats an added bonus for the record books for him. If he cares only about Indy, then why would he bother to spend all the money/effort he does employing the best drivers and staff for the rest of the season? Just for purposes of winning Indy? I don’t think so. That would be a odd business structure which we know Roger Penske would not even bother with.

]]> By: AZZO45 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1957 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:25:43 +0000 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1957 Agreed.

Plus, Helio might have never won a championship for Penske… but I don’t recall him gagging on a solid 25 point lead by stuffing his 1st place car into the outside pit wall either :!: I don’t get this Helio-has-a short-rope talk :idea:

I think Helio & Ryan will be championship contenders again… & Will Power will discover its much harder to be a full-time “star” @ Penske. JMO.

]]> By: dylanpt24 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1956 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:25:41 +0000 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1956 He won Indy and Texas both this year.

]]> By: Leigh O'Gorman http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1955 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:45:23 +0000 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1955 *if* De Ferran is even there by 2011…

]]> By: Leigh O'Gorman http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1954 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:43:13 +0000 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1954 Aaahh Gaston you touring car God – we miss you…… ;)

]]> By: gnome http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1953 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:52:40 +0000 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1953 Very good article. While I (along with most of the indycar fans out there) remain a fan of Helio, I am wishing greater success on guys who showed promise for years and now are on the top team (read: Briscoe and WP). I voted for his slide to continue, and Helio to be let go after this year. True, he’s won Indy THREE TIMES but, Roger is no fool and if Helio isn’t performing he won’t was a third car on him when he has two other very talented drivers.

side note: *if* Helio gets let go, I don’t see him retiring, but joining up as a driver for his old teammate, de Ferran. But that’s enough future speculation to give me a headache…

]]> By: Brad http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1952 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:51:09 +0000 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/helio-must-improve-in-2010/#comment-1952 Who has won twice? Helio has 3 Indy 500s. I agree with George on this one. Yes Helio could set a record, but he could also wash out. The Captain now has two great drivers besides HCN that could take the checkered at Indy. The Captain doesn’t keep drivers to see what could happen. He has always been a business man first and if HCN follows on his trend down the slope he would become a sort of gimmick. If the captian wanted a gimmick, he would have signed Danica. Don’t get me wrong HCN is great but there comes a time when things turn.

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