Helio Court Date set for the Month of May | FerrariChat
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Helio Court Date set for the Month of May

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by ZUL8TR, Nov 16, 2008.

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  1. ZUL8TR

    ZUL8TR Formula 3

    Feb 12, 2008
    1,354
    Fishers, IN
    #1 ZUL8TR, Nov 16, 2008
    Helio's court date is set for the Month of May. His lawyers tried to get it switched to Nov so he could race the season, but the court refused. There is no way Penkse can have the #3 car down for the 500, much less gamble that Helio won't do jail time if found guilty. Considering they sent Martha Stewart away for insider trading & lying, I would expect that Helio has driven his last season in IRL.

    Additional Info:

    Rahal Letterman is having trouble with resigning Ethanol as a sponsor for 2009. The Indy Star is reporting that Ethanol producers are saying its not viable/profitable/etc. in the current economic climate.


    Word on the street: Look for Ryan Hunter-Reay to be driving the #3 car for Penske in 2009.
     
  2. badges2

    badges2 Formula 3

    Nov 6, 2008
    1,652
    Geneva, IL
    Full Name:
    Neil
    #2 badges2, Nov 16, 2008
    It's a shame from the standpoint that he really seems to be a decent guy. Everytime I've run across him in the pits at races, he has been courteous with fans and signing autographs. He was also a great ambassador for the sport in his ability to charm most anyone. Unfortunately, if one thing will get you in trouble, it's messing with Uncle Sam's bank account!!
     
  3. TrentS

    TrentS Formula Junior

    Nov 22, 2005
    789
    South Florida
    #3 TrentS, Nov 17, 2008
  4. ZUL8TR

    ZUL8TR Formula 3

    Feb 12, 2008
    1,354
    Fishers, IN
    #4 ZUL8TR, Nov 17, 2008
    Opps...my bad...March is correct and I can't go back and edit my OP.



    The bit on Ryan Hunter-Reay most likely taking over the #3 car for Penske is interesting.

    Same with Rahal Letterman having difficulty with the Ethanol sponsorship.
     
  5. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 30, 2007
    99,862
    #5 GuyIncognito, Nov 17, 2008
    agree on Helio, he's a great guy and the only professional athlete I've ever met who introduced himself to me, not the other way around!

    my sense is that his attorney and sister/business manager will take the fall, Helio will claim "plausible deniability" (he's just an uneducated racing driver relying on experts), probably get fine/probation at worst, and he'll be in the car in '09. Will be interesting to see how they handle races in Japan/Canada.

    However, Ryan Hunter-Reay is a great driver and I think would be a very Penske-like choice, he might be their backup.

    Ethanol sponsorship will go bye-bye if congress ends the corn subsidies, but I don't see that happening given the makeup of the incoming congress.
     

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