By CURT ANDERSON – 19 hours ago
MIAMI (AP) — Race car driver and "Dancing With The Stars" winner Helio Castroneves pleaded not guilty Friday to federal tax evasion charges and declared outside the courtroom that he would treat the case like a race against the Internal Revenue Service.
"I'm a race car driver," the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner told reporters. "This is a very difficult situation. I'll be strong and I'll win this race."
Castroneves, 33, spoke after his release on $10 million bail following a court appearance in which he was shackled in handcuffs and leg chains and was visibly weeping into a wad of white tissue. Outside, Castroneves acknowledged he was overwhelmed by the weight of the moment.
"It's been a long day. It's been an emotional day, obviously," he said. "I am not guilty."
Driver Castroneves pleads not guilty in tax case....
The Associated Press
The Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series is expanding, and more growth could occur soon.
The IRL will make its debut in Long Beach and Toronto next season.
The Grand Prix of Long Beach will be run on April 19. The 35-year-old event has hosted F1, CART and Champ Car races. This season, Champ Car ran its final event there after its merger with the IRL, but awarded the drivers IRL points. Next year, it becomes a full-fledged IRL event. The agreement is for through 2015.
The IRL will hold the Streets of Toronto race on July 12. It will make up for the loss of the Nashville event, which was dropped after efforts to negotiate an agreement for a 2009 race there failed.
2 new venues added to 2009 IndyCar schedule....
From Times Wire Rrports
Scott Dixon took the lead on Lap 149 and had enough fuel to stay there until rain ended the Indy Racing League Firestone Indy 200 with 29 laps left Saturday night, giving him his third consecutive victory at Nashville Superspeedway and his fourth this season.
The third caution of the race came on Lap 139 when the rain finally hit. The cars kept going even as fans were asked to evacuate the grandstand immediately because of the weather. They went back to green before the fourth and final caution came on lap 167.
IRL officials kept the cars rolling until the rain came harder, and the race was red-flagged on Lap 171.
Rain allows Scott Dixon to win third straight at Nashville....
