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Edmonton IndyCar Officiating Overshadows Race

Big Bend, WI (July 26, 2010) – We all know the rulers are a rule crowd. They are the ones that now dominate our public school systems and other areas of our lives. They’re the ones who suspend or expel the student for bringing in a butter knife for his sandwich or an aspirin that supposedly violate the school’s weapons or drug policy.

So when Brian Barnhart of the IZOD Indy Car Series explains his ruling, why am I still wondering how Helio Castroneves was robbed of his victory in Edmonton on Sunday?

In an IndyCar post-race press release, it stated, “Drivers were warned by Brian Barnhart during the pre-race drivers meeting on blocking: “You have plenty of options on where to put your car and we should not have any defending or blocking. Again we will be visually dividing the braking point through the entry into the corner in half. You can only be on the inside half if you are attempting to pass someone. If you are on the inside half because you are under attack from someone else, it is blocking. Don’t move your car in reaction to a following car and don’t impede the progress of a car with a run on you.”

Rule 9.3 (B) A driver must not alter his/her racing line based on the actions of pursuing Drivers or use an abnormal racing line to inhibit or prevent passing. Blocking will result in a minimum of a black flag “drive through” penalty.

Rule 7.1 (B) (4) (C) (4) The senior official shall determine the type and length of any black flag. The penalized car shall proceed to pit lane as directed by Officials and may return to the Race only upon the declaration of Officials. In the case of the Driver Violating the Rules, no work may be performed on a Car during the execution of a black flag penalty. Should any such work occur, the conditions of the penalty are unfilled and the penalty procedure must be executed again in its entirety on a subsequent lap. The penalty may not be protested and/or appealed.

Rule 9.2 (A) Race Procedure Penalties are a result of on track conduct and are generally imposed during on Track activity. If the imposition of a penalty is near or at the end of on Track activity and Driver/Car does not fulfill it, the Senior Official may reposition the Driver/Car in the posting of results or apply the penalty to subsequent on Track activity to reflect the fulfillment of the penalty. The penalty including without limitation any repositioning in a posting is non-protestable and/or appealable.”

Do you have that? See, that’s why it’s a B.S. Call. I’m still wondering where the block was? If he overdrives the turn carrying him wide, doesn’t that give the opportunity for the driver behind to pass? When the Television crew is wondering why and several others I’m watching the race with are clueless to the reasoning, it’s a bad call. When you take a victory away, it better be a clear cut decision, easily disseminated by fans and viewers alike.

Race winner Dixon had another view, “Brian always says that if you’re blocking going into any corner and you are on the right side – especially into Turn 1, you’re going to get a penalty. We get told every week, so you could see something was going to happen. We had a great run with the Target car and kept it in a typical line. It was a tough day. The Target car was pretty loose. I can’t believe that we won.” Apparently fighting for the lead, you better not drive too hard into turn one.

Then we have Will Power. “I got a run on him and he blocked me. I would say a black flag is a pretty harsh penalty, but it is what it is. It was just one of those racing things. When you’re leading on the last restart you want to keep the lead.” Do you think Mr. Penske is going to close the door and have a talk to Will like Michael Corleone did to Fredo in the Godfather? “But don’t ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever.”

Helio commented after the race, “Obviously, I disagree with the decisions made by the race officials on the last restart in today’s race, but there is no excuse for my actions after the checkered flag. I apologize to my team, our sponsors, the fans and the entire IZOD IndyCar Series community for my behavior. My actions were totally wrong and I acted inappropriately to some people who are my friends and people I respect very much. Obviously, I am a very emotional person and today I let my emotions get the better of me and I’m very sorry for that.”

No need to apologize Helio, I’ve would’ve done the same thing. Thankfully Charles Burns who heads security for the series provided the reassuring presence and acted very cool under the circumstances. Mr. Burns is a top-notch professional.

This call brings back many of the asinine calls of the past made by the “old men” of USAC. One last thing. Who runs race control for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup or Nationwide Series’? How about Grand-Am or ALMS? Herein lies part of the problem. Mr. Barnhart’s name is mentioned almost weekly if not hourly on IZOD IndyCar broadcasts. You usually never find out who the football referee or baseball umpire is until they screw up. Will Mr. Barnhart be mentioned in the same sentence as Phil Luckett or Jim Joyce? Perhaps with all the changes happening in IndyCar, one more needs to be made.

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