Seven years have passed, but the scars remain. Tracy is participating in the 500 for the first time since—a “victory tour,” as some are calling it—but Castroneves is steadfast in his belief that he won the race. Tracy still believes he won.
Paul Tracy reflects on the 2002 race As told to Curt Cavin
“If you go back and listen to the broadcast, with five to go Barry (Green) radioed me and said (to go) full rich. I said, I don’t have anything. I couldn’t get any closer. Everything was strung out and, until things got back together with Dario (Franchitti) coming out of the pits and slowing Helio up almost as a pick, that’s when it became an accordion.”
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Giaffone understeered in turn three and made a slight bobble, and then he went to the inside and I went around him on the outside. At that point, Dario came down the front straightaway and peeled off. That’s what set up the last three laps of the race. Right then, I knew I had a shot at him. The whole complexion changed in a lap.
When I went into turn four, I saw the yellow light; that’s when my dash light came on. I was just entering turn four.
The panel left for a month and came back with a decision that our appeal wasn’t appeal-able.
Helio Castroneves reflects on the 2002 race As told to Curt Cavin
I heard (then-crew chief Tim) Cindric say, “(Paul) Tracy’s in third and just passed for second.” I was saving a lot of fuel. I was going half-throttle. About four laps to go he said, “You gotta go, you gotta go.” I went to (more) fuel and Tracy started coming, and we were flat out all the way around.
(On the 199th lap) I was managing the whole situation and as we were approaching turn three I could see that he was approaching alongside, but I was in full control of the situation.
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They screamed, “Yellow,” and then the yellow came on, and I backed off. He kept going, and I started yelling, “He passed me under yellow.” They said, “OK, bring it to the finish line and we’ll take care of that.” I barely touched the throttle because I didn’t want to run out of fuel. Felipe (Giaffone) passed me, Sam (Hornish Jr.) passed me. But then I saw my (number) on top of the pylon and from that time I knew I was in the lead and everything was OK.
I said to him, “I know you’re a great driver, but it’s unlikely you’re going to pass me there. You probably could have passed me on the next straightaway, but in that particular time there would have been no way.”
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