Comments on: Helio Castroneves – Too Little, Too Late

By: louise

louise — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 03:13:47 +0000

Oh and forgot Edmonton was legally stolen from him.

By: louise

louise — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 03:12:18 +0000

Helio will win a championship and he will be a 4 time and possibley 5 time indy 500 winner. I think that it’s his girlfriend Adriana that has damaged his racing this year. He must focus on racing rather than other things.

By: Edward

Edward — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 02:00:31 +0000

Good post, George. And truthfully, like you, I don’t know why Helio hasn’t won a championship, or if he ever will.

Two points I’d like to throw out for discussion: The tax case and being a father.

How much did Helio’s tax evasion case take out of him? I can certainly imagine that it drained him emotionally as well as physically. How much can be debated, but it very well might be a factor.

Becoming a father. Chip Ganassi has a theory that being a father saps a driver of his desire to let it all hang out on the track. Some feel that is why Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan haven’t been as competitive this year as in years past. Helio also became a father last year I believe. Is that a factor? I don’t know, but it could be. I’d like to hear what others think of those as factors for Helio’s inability to close the deal recently, although those factors have no bearing on not winning a championship in the years before the two series became one.

By: Gene Valentine

Gene Valentine — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:31:28 +0000

I would agree that he seems to lose focus during the course of the season. Besides some of the lackluster finishes in mid-year, this is evidenced by little mistakes he makes during the pit stops. George, you speculated a couple of months ago (rightly so, I believe) that Helio and Briscoe needed to improve since Penske could likely go back to a two-car team next year and undoubtedly Power is going to stay. I think Helio might have sensed this as well, as he seemed to regain focus and improve his performance.

I seriously doubt that Penske would cut Helio loose because of his consistent speed and performance at the Indy 500. That history alone is enough for Penske to retain him; besides, it is just a matter of time for Power to win a championship (if not this year). If Penske cuts back to 2 cars, I think Briscoe may be the one that is out….

I believe Helio is good for the series due to his personality and the fact that many casual fans are aware of him (helped by his DWTS win). The series needs more personalities like his to help build the fan base.

By: Christopher Leone

Christopher Leone — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:45:53 +0000

Simply put, because there’s a better, more focused driver out there every year. Helio can win Indy in the Marmon wasp but you’re right, there are one or two races every year that he just doesn’t have it, usually towards midseason, that put him behind.

This year, they were Texas and Toronto. Last year – Mid-Ohio, Sonoma, and Chicago (missing the season opener didn’t help).

Other times, he’s just had bad luck in that other drivers have barely topped him in his career best season. In 08, Dixon just took more wins – simple as that. In 06, Hornish and Wheldon both managed to do it by a mere two points apiece.

Before that, just look at the stats. Helio has a lot of seasons with a lot of top-fives and top-10s, but they’re just not enough to win championships. IndyCar simply doesn’t award enough points for a driver to do that. The consistency will always put him towards the top of the standings, but it’s never going to be enough. Maybe in NASCAR.

By: Leigh O'Gorman

Leigh O'Gorman — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:36:48 +0000

I think it’s a unfortunate case of losing focus when it mattered most – I don’t think his raw speed is in doubt, in fact I think you could put him against most of the hardest competitors and he’ll do well.
However there also seems to be an inability to follow through over a whole season that will always prevent him from being remembered in a higher category.
The great nearly man of our era??