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Sunday, May 26 Updated: May 27, 5:52 PM ET  Users agree to disagree with ending Helio Castroneves held off Paul Tracy for his second-consecutive victory in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, but many are left questioning the finish of the race at the Brickyard. Here are some of the better comments on the controversial finish:
It's too bad Tracy races in the rival CART series. The IRL has waited for two years to have one of their drivers win this race. There's little chance they'll squander this chance. And they'll tarnish the Indianapolis 500 in the process. Darren E. Broder North Vancouver, B.C.
My imagination saw the great pass and the rebel of driving bring home the green; the picture was clear and glorious and as certain as it rains in May in Indianapolis. Absolutely nothing could change the colors. And then Indy came home to the top of the heap again and rendered one of those delicious surprises, across 1000 acres of heartland.
My God, what a great moment in sport. And it was just another of the finer moments among many that the Indy 500 still brings into my world every Memorial Day Weekend.
I am sure that Helio Castroneves won. Paul Tracy is just whining. He always whines when he does not win. The videotapes clearly show that when the accident happened, Helio was in the lead. And when Tracy went to pass the yellow lights were on.
Maybe Tracy needs glasses. I am glad that Helio won and I hope he wins again next year for THREE IN A ROW. The Indianapolis 500 is the best race to watch and no changes should be made. Tell Tracy to grow up or GET OUT!
An unfortunate ending for sure. As a CART fan and die-hard Tracy supporter, after seeing the ABC video footage, its difficult to say Paul won. Check that, impossible. Had the race stayed green, Paul no doubt would have passed Helio for the win. Fact is there was a crash, and Tracy was behind Castroneves at the time of it. Race Over. Sad for sure, but legit to say the least.
After starting in 29th, second is nothing to sneeze at. WAY TO GO PAUL!
What can you say except Indy officials did not want Paul Tracy to win. He is a "bad" boy and unlike NASCAR they can't accept the bad boy image. Walter S. Brown Tucson, Ariz.
Simply put, this is another case of Paul Tracy practicing his whining. I was in the third turn and Tracy did not pass Helio before the yellow. It seems at Indy that there is always a whiner. Sneva, then Cheever ... now its time for a new generation. Pail Tracy. Ron Dudelston Hartford City, Ind.
I feel that Tracy should had gotten the victory in the race. I think that they need to rethink some of the rules when it comes down to winning and losing a race with a yellow flag. Why not go and extra lap? Kenneth E. Brooks Raytown, Mo.
The light came on after Tracy had passed Helio. What's the mystery in that? A neutral team came forward and said that there are timing points all over the track and it showed that Tracy was leading by .125 over Helio when the yellow came on. Again, what's the mystery in that? Give Tracy his win! Nathaniel Horwitz Fremont, Calif.
Rules are rules. Tracy hadn't even started his pass when the wreck occured. Say what you want, but Tracy was just about ten seconds too late to win. Justin H. Spring Hill, Fla.
It was great to see an Indy 500 worth remembering since its been about 10 years in my mind that there has been a REALLY good Indy 500. Unfortunately Paul Tracy was the victim of the controversial call. It seemed to be his race, Castroneves was out of gas and Tracy had him beat on the last lap. I am sure that would be the way Tracy would want to win the Indy 500, last lap, and beating The Captain, because of the Captain's bad call on gas. I hope the IRL at least looks at Tracy's protest, instead of ignoring it becasue he is pro-CART. Noah Spevak Camarillo, Calif.
Rules are rules. IRL rules say that the position reverts back to the previous lap when a yellow is thrown, so it doesn't matter when Tracy passed Helio, he wasn't ahead of him at the start of the lap. Paul Schulz Laramie, Wyo.
Looks like RP and company got a "Welcome to the IRL" gift from TG and his minions. If Tracy had won, that would've made three 500's in a row won by CART interlopers, and TG can't stand the thought of that. TG probably ordered Lazier and Redon to wad up their mounts on purpose. Mike Beranek Lake in the Hills, Ill.
Hmmm....TV replays show that Tracy clearly was NOT winning when yellow came out. What's to debate? William Smarr Charlotte, N.C.
ABC showed it right after the race. The win belongs to Castroneves. Sure, no caution and Tracy wins. Once again, the fastest car doesn't always win. Steve Consley Bedford, Ky.
Paul Tracy should have won. His car was clearly faster and the yellow was NOT on when he made the pass. I was at the track and had a perfect vantage point and the yellow was not on when he passed Helio. If, by chance, Castroneves is given the win it will be unfortunate and a clear sign that the IRL is biased towards it's drivers and cannot put on a fair race. In my mind, and the the minds of millions of true race fans, Paul Tracy is the champion of the 2002 Indy 500. Tom Sneider Indianapolis
Helio won, no question about it. I am more upset by the blocking done on the No. 21 car Felipe Giaffone by Dario Francitti allowing Tracy to get ahead. Julie Snarski South Hampton, Pa.
They were racing, putting on a show. They should have been able to finish it that way. It wasn't as if Tracy came out of nowhere -- he had established himself and was just trying to win. Helio got lucky and Tracy got robbed. Forget the rules, it was a race, and that was what they were doing. The crash wasn't affecting them in that turn. Courtney Porter Lebanon, Ind.
Castroneves "legally" won the race. By the rules, the right deicision was made. However, there is no doubt that Paul Tracy should have been the victor. If that last lap were to have been played out, Tracy would have won. If they were allowed to race back to the line, Tracy would have won. But rules are rules and Tracy didnt make the pass until after the yellow was shown. So its all "woulda, coulda, shoulda" and in reality Castroneves won. Jared Geist Brighton, Mich.
I think the Tracy won the race, there is no doubt about that. The IRL should look beyond politics and give the deserving Tracy the win. Xavier Sigala Santa Maria, Calif.
The finish of the race was a joke -- Tracy won. The IRL officials pulled a homer -- Tony George and the IRL shold be ashamed. I won't buy a ticket again. Scott Paris Indianapolis
I think it's a great rule -- these drivers are going 225 mph -- when the yellow is thrown it is for drivers safety. Helio was ahead when the caution waved and that is the way the cars should line up. It may not be the most exciting way, but it is fair and more importantly ... SAFE! Jeff Conner Lafayette, Ind.
Whether Tracy won or not is secondary to the real question; which is, will Tony George and Brian Barnhart do everything possible to give a CART team a fair hearing if it would mean a CART victory? Tom Kennedy New Orleans
It is unfortunate that there was a crash which caused the yellow flag to come out at the point in the race when it did, but what can you do about it? There are rules in place to cover the situation, the rules were applied correctly, and the winner was duly pronounced. Would the same driver have won if that crash had not occurred? It is an interesting question to speculate about, but not really relevant. Bill Hausmann Essexville, Mich.
Helio should have been pouring the milk over Tracy's head, not his own. Bob Hansen Oklahoma
Tracy Won. PERIOD Colin Batchelor Bordentown, N.J.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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