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Wednesday, December 26 Castroneves should challenge for title Here's what users had to say about Helio Castroneves, his past season and his future prospects:
Penske will win the IRL. Gil and Helio will win every race as long as the other guys don't take them out. CART drivers are far superior drivers as we have seen the past two Indy 500s. Gil won Cart the past two years so I think Roger will concentrate a little more on getting Helio the championship. Penske struggled on the oval last year and I think the IRL will help develop his guys into the most complete and best drivers ever. Ryan Smithberger South Bend, Ind.
Helio is an outstanding racer with excelent car control. I feel Helio won't miss a step and walk away from the IRL field just like he did at Indy. He will have to battle Gil, but Helio drives in a circle better and will come out on top. I am looking forward to him coming back to CART when his contract is up with Roger and see him again have competition. Tim Fregeau Aurora, Ill.
I've seen Helio at Long Beach and at Indy this year. If they don't get bored, he and de Ferran will have the entire IRL field covered. Matthew Wendorf Venice, Calif.
I think Penske made the right "business" decision, but as for Helio, once his contract is up with Penske Racing, watch him go poke around Europe for a ride in F1. Don't be surprised if you see Helio driving for McLaren or Ferrari in a year or two. Steve Raden Sheboygan, Wis.
I beleive Helio and Gil will be very strong in the 2002 IRL season. The Penske cars will dominate the season with Helio winning the championship. However, Helio has lost all chances of scoring a Formula 1 ride with this ridiculous move to an inferior series. Michael Tidwell Nashville, Tenn.
I am a really big Helio Castroneves fan, and of course I would like to see him succeed wherever he goes. I was really shocked to hear that Roger Penske was leaving CART, and I wondered why. His drivers placed in the top 10 places in the CART championship for two years in a row, and I know if I as a driver, was doing that well in CART, I wouldn't want to leave.
I really hope Castroneves does well in the IRL, and at the same time I hope CART doesn't die. I think it is great that he has already won the 500. He does well on any kind of track. I really believe that he will be successful in the IRL and if he wins the 500 again I'll be the happiest girl in the world!
Castroneves has a very real chance of dominating the IRL this year if he wants to. Nobody in IRL can compare to Penske, or to Castroneves. This year's Indy showed that to be the case.
However, the press is right, Castroneves doesn't belong
in the IRL. He needs to be on the road courses, and
he needs to be surrounded by a higher level of
talent than the IRL can provide. Shame on Roger.
I think that he has everything to be a champion. It is unfortunate that he is now in the IRL, not CART. I feel that it was a poor move, although he didn't have anything to do with it. But he has the tools to win an easy championship, if he can keep away from Gil. Good luck Helio. You're the man to beat! Jon Spencer Fullerton, Calif.
Helio's a great guy, a great driver, and he has a great attitude. I sincerely hope he won't defect to F1 too quickly. He'll be a great addition to the IRL competition, though I suspect he'll find it a little more challenging than many people seem to think. Jef Richards Austin, Texas
If Helio remains focused, there is no doubt he can win the IRL Championship. His closest competitor will be his own teammate, Gil de Ferran. Although, outside of the Indy 500, I'm not sure if his heart will be in it knowing that the IRL is like getting demoted to the minor league. Mike Quan Gardena, Calif.
Castroneves, de Ferran and Penske will all be men among boys in the IRL -- and they will be bored silly on 100% ovals. Both will be gone in '03 -- either to F1, or back to CART. Dave Mevis Naperville, Ill.
I think that Helio will really enjoy the racing in the IRL. He may not be able to turn right, but he will have to adjust to actually racing against other cars. His road coarse, single-file parade, only passes in the pits days are over. He will do well, but more importantly he will have more fun racing. I would not bet on his leaving the IRL after 2002. Bill Jackson Washington, D.C.
I favor Team Penske's move to IRL because I believe only racing Darwinism can save open wheel racing. R.P.'s move makes the rising IRL stronger and will shorten the so called war. Lew Stubblefield Chicago, Ill.
Helio and Gil are way too good to be wasted on the ovals of the IRL. What a shame that Roger Penske (and his drivers) have been cornered by Phillip-Morris into what they belive is better exposure in their given market place. Alex Garcia Tucson, Ariz.
I think Helio will do well in the IRL, but I also think it's extremely unfortunate that his talents will be wasted in this all oval series. No matter whether there are a few good teams there already, or if one believes that it is a second rate series at best. Any series that is all oval, or mostly oval will never truly test a drivers complete skillset.
If the IRL does become the dominant open wheel series here in the States (and I hope that's NOT the case), then it must have more than one or two token road courses (which at present is doesn't even have). Any racing series that really wants to be considered one of the best in the world must race at least half of its events on proper road courses. For sure I'm not so interested in concrete lined street courses, but tracks like Road America, Watkins Glen, and even the temporary circuit at Cleveland are excellent venues. I hope Helio gets a chance to prove his skills on these sorts of courses soon. It's a shame that Roger Penske is squandering this great driver's talents on the IRL.
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