F1 Fanatic

I saw it and I thought it was handled entirely correctly. As soon as I saw Castroneves staying right on the restart I thought he’d either have to give up the place or get a penalty.

IndyCar’s rules say you’re not allowed to defend your position like that. We’ve seen them enforce it before and Castroneves should know because he was on the rough end of it at Long Beach a couple of years ago.

I can’t understand what all the fuss is about from people criticising the penalty. It’s odd that it’s termed “blocking” by some, because it isn’t “blocking” in the strict sense, but all the same it’s clear what the intent of the rule is and we’ve seen it applied in the past.

i’ve watched the race end

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CT9Fha2mkY

but what exactly is the story here? what was controversial? what was he meant to do?

I completely understand what Sato just asked that was my first reaction when I watched the Video, I was searching round trying to find somebody in the field doing something wrong.

Blocking rules in Indy Car may be appropriate for Ovals where it would be easy for someone to clip a tyre and go skyward, but on a road curcuit its utterly ridiculous and makes the sport look stupid. I did actually watch as one of the stewards explained the decision and I was dumbfounded at the rules that they were wanting to enforce.

“In my opinion he should have let his team mate go by at the restrat when he got such a good run on him anyway because Power is a real chance for the title this season”

lol good point, but the thing is he would have gotten the penalty whoever he’d been ‘blocking’ In F1 you can’t race your team mate but in IndyCar you can’t race at all.

I think the people who make the rules in IndyCar need an education in how racing should work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3tXJm9tYGM

I understand that within the framework of IRL rules that the penalty had presidence and within that scope made sense. However, I feel that outside the IRL rule book, hence, in the rest of the motor sports world, that the penalty is rediculous. Perhaps this is one of those situations where just because it’s a rule, it doesn’t necessarily follow that it is a good rule. Again, maybe it would be better to say it is an unpolished rule, because, as Ads21 suggested, it may make sense on ovals. I believe there were a number of blocking penalties at this year’s Indianapolis 500 which I thought made sense in that situation. However, considering that the Indycar Series is strugging to keep/find a fan base, and it seems to me it’s more likely to attract fans of F1, or sportscar racing, rather than NASCAR fans, or fans completely new to racing, that maybe they should look at changing that rule? I know from my point of view there are definitely some other aspects of the sport I find rather silly.

http://www.youtube.com/indycarseries#p/u/6/1e-J6LWropo

it’s explained here. Penalty is correct, but I don’t like it!

@TommyB – no, correct call, worst rule ever.

Just watched the replay of the actual rule as opposed to the incident.

I stand corrected, and agree what a ridiculous rule.