Paul Tracy is hoping the result of this year’s Indianapolis 500 is a full-time ride—and maybe a little justice, too.
The longtime open-wheel star still believes he, not Helio Castroneves, won the 2002 Indy 500.
When practice for the May 24 race begins next week, he will return to the IndyCar mecca for the first time since that race eight years ago.
“I’m not haunted by it,” he said. “I got over it the next week. I went to Milwaukee in the CART race and won there.
“I kind of let things go pretty easily. Obviously, I’ve won a lot of races since then, won a championship since then.”
Tracy also went on to lose other close races, but the way he lost this one still burns in his gut.
IndyCar officials ruled the yellow came out before Tracy completed the pass and Castroneves was declared the winner. Tracy’s Team Green filed an official protest, but after an appeals hearing Castroneves’ win was upheld on July 2—nearly six weeks after the race.
The finish remains as clear in Tracy’s mind as the day it happened. USA Today
Tracy said that his memory is clear and in his mind he’s certain that he’s already notched one win and a victory this year in a KV Technology Dallara would make it a pair.
“That’s in my soul now,” he said. “So I have that feeling of winning there, which I think is more important than having a trophy on your shelf. After a while, you never look at it anymore and it just gets tarnished.”
And forget about this just being a one-off for one of the most feared and fierce competitors in open wheel racing. Tracy knows better than anyone that a win, or even a top five finish, would go a long way to getting him back in the racing business full time.
“The only reason I want to go there is to try to win” he said. “It’s not to go there to qualify and make the field. If we can (win) and generate a lot of media for our sponsor (GEICO), hopefully we can grow this into something bigger and better. Right now the focus is just on Indianapolis. If that goes well enough, then maybe we can get into the races in Canada or maybe more.”
Team co-owner Jimmy Vasser has promised Tracy a car that is capable of winning the 500-mile race on May 24.
“The team obviously has fast cars this year,” Tracy said. “They were looking for a veteran driver to make their assault on the 500. We all share the same goal, and that’s to go there and try to win the race.” Toronto Sun
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