Jalopnik: Indianapolis 500

Helio Castroneves Indicted On Tax Evasion; Charges Against More Drivers To Come?

Andrew Stoy — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EDT

Brazilian race car driver and Dancing With The Stars winner Helio Castroneves is staring down charges he evaded taxes on more than $5 million in income over a four-year period. The 33-year-old two-time Indy 500 winner is expected to turn himself in to authorities today, along with his sister Kati and his lawyer, Alan Miller, both accused of helping Castroneves. Good call on the part of authorities, because although he's got fancy footwork, we kind of doubt the Team Penske driver was the tax code mastermind behind the scheme. Regardless, because of the Alan Miller connection, Castroneves' indictment could have repercussions well beyond those currently accused.

Apparently Michigan attorney Alan Miller has also represented or currently represents such racing stars as Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Casey Mears, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Ward Burton and Clint Bowyer. There's no evidence that Miller conspired with any other drivers for tax-evasion purposes, but his indictment in connection with Helio Castroneves likely has a number of famous names checking the books with their lawyers and accountants. [Miami Herald, USA Today] Thanks to everyone who tipped us!

Scott Dixon Takes Pole For 2008 Indy 500

Mark Arnold — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:27:47 EDT

[ABC/ESPN]

Danica Patrick Runs Into Crewman At Indy, We're Checking To See If That's A First For A Woman

Travis Hudson — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:00:00 EDT

Danica Patrick, the current headline maker of the IndyCar Series has made yet another headline, this time it's not so much of the rah-rah-go-women type. In a practice round for the upcoming Indianapolis 500, she managed to run into Charles Buckman, the chief mechanic for Mario Moraes' Dale Coyne Racing team. Buckman suffered scalp and facial cuts as well as a concussion. We're not going to make stereotypical comments about women drivers, but we can't imagine what is going to happen when the Goodyear ad people find out, they're going to have a field day. [ESPN] (Images via AP; Video via ESPN)

Pictures of Entire 1952 Indianapolis 500 Starting Grid Found

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:40:00 EDT

As much as we like open wheel racing and modern car designs, there's something far more awesome about vintage racing cars. This is undoubtedly the opinion of one Jim Rogacki, an engineer from Buffalo, who, while digging around for vintage car parts, managed to run into an amateur Indianapolis 500 historian. After shooting the breeze for a while, Jim convinced the man to let him scan his fantastic collection of photos for all 33 cars in the 1952 starting grid. We swiped a couple, but go take a look at the very neat complete collection and the story behind it over at Jalopy Journal.

Wife Busts Tony Kanaan's Balls After Qualifying Behind Danica Patrick

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:40:00 EDT

She's everywhere these days - Danica Patrick is the Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova of open wheel racing and everyone wants a piece of the moment. Well, maybe except teammate Tony Kanaan and his wife. A quick item at Automobile relays a phone call from Kanaan's pregnant wife after he qualified third and behind Patrick at the last Mid-Ohio IRL race. When she heard about the result, she had a question for him:

"Could you do me a favor? In our motor home, in the bedroom, go to my closet. All the way in the back of the closet, there's a blue dress. Maybe you should wear it next time you qualify!"

Man, that's cold. She knows Tony looks so much better in red dresses. When asked for a comment, Kanaan replied by saying "Why do I look like Vin Diesel?" [AutomobileMag] photo source AP

Workhorse Engine of the Day: Offenhauser!

Murilee Martin — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST

After seeing a bunch of these mighty 4-bangers at Laguna Seca a few months back, we have to agree with commenter Discontinuity that the Offenhauser definitely belongs in this series. Based on a Miller marine engine, the first Offenhauser engine was built in 1933. For the next few decades, the twin-cam/4-valve Offenhauser utterly dominated the Indy 500, and it was still a strong racing competitor well into the 1970s. We're just disappointed that no Detroit automaker ever saw fit to offer an Offy Option on any of their cars. [Wikipedia]