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 Friday, December 13, 2002
Castroneves gives Penske first win of '02
By Jack Arute
Special to ABC Sports Online
The rematch was just as good as the first bout. The outcome was different, but based upon what we have seen in the first two Indy Racing League races of this young season, open-wheel fans are in store for a dandy season.
After IRL champion Sam Hornish Jr. crushed the competition at Homestead two weeks ago, some were ready to just give the 22-year-old from Ohio a second IRL crown. Hornish was once again a front-runner Sunday on the tight one-mile PIR oval outside Phoenix, but the day belonged to the newest IRL members -- a pair of expatriated CART drivers -- wheeling fluorescent red and white cars with bold black type spelling out the word Marlboro.
Helio Castroneves held off his teammate, two-time CART FedEx champion Gil de Ferran, to win the second IRL race of his four-race IRL career. The Phoenix win was also team Penske's first of 2002 and evened the score with the Pennzoil Panther team, who have already declared an official "rivalry" with Penske's team.
"A writer explained to me that the battle between me and the Penske drivers reminded him of the old A.J. Foyt-Mario Andretti rivalry," remarked Sam Hornish who finished third in Phoenix. "I don't mind that comparison. I just wish I had someone to help me. There's two of them and just one of me."
The competition between the two teams has sparked increased interest in the IRL. It is an interest that will grow as the series marches towards the May running of the Indianapolis 500.
"Last year we came to Phoenix to get ready for Indy and didn't have to worry about points," said Castroneves before Sunday's race. "But this season, we are looking for points. I believe that we have to be more conservative, but if we have a car that can win, I'm sorry man I'm going to have to try my best."
Helio's best was against his teammate de Ferran. With 50 laps remaining, de Ferran pulled alongside Castroneves and the two ran side-by-side until the 2001 Indy 500 champion ended de Ferran's challenge.
Gear box troubles handicapped Hornish. Despite a faulty fifth and sixth gear, Hornish managed to close on the two Penske cars in heavy race traffic only to have the caution wave with 12 laps left.
So the score is even through two rounds. Next is Sunday's two-mile California Speedway in Fontana (ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET), originally built by Penske. CART has run a 500-mile race there since its inception and both Castroneves and de Ferran have logged tons of miles on the track in California's "Inland Empire".
Hornish and the rest of the IRL have never raced there.
Advantage?
Not just Penske's pair, but also Jimmy Vasser and Team Rahal, who will use the Yamaha 400 for a shakedown run prior to their Indy 500 effort.
Hornish brings a four-point lead into California over Castroneves and nine over de Ferran. Maybe the IRL should consider inviting ring announcer Michael Buffer to the event. The way Penske and Panther are slugging it out, "Let's Get Ready to Rumble" might be more appropriate than "Gentlemen Start Your Engines".
Jack Arute writes a column every Monday for ABC Sports Online.
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 Helio Castroneves has to be pried from the fences to discuss his second career IRL victory.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Helio Castroneves and Gil de Ferran make it a 1-2 Penske sweep in Phoenix.
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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