Helio Cleared To Race At Surfers
By Andrew Cutler
October 11 2008
As part of the bail agreement that allows him to await his trial on tax evasion charges at his home in Miami instead of in a prison cell, Helio Castroneves was forced to surrender his passport to the court. Now, following a special motion on his behalf, Helio has been given the okay to travel to Australia for the Oct. 26th IndyCar race.
Prosecutors intially argued that Helio posed a flight risk, citing his numerous financial assests back home in his native Brazil. However, the judge accepted the motion, calling the thought of fleeing; "the dumbest thing Mr. Castroneves could do" given his lucrative racing career - and the endorsment opportunities that it provided him - here in the States.
Nonetheless, he warned Castroneves that (playing on his "Dancing with the Stars" TV fame) he would have to do a; "tango with the U.S. Marshals" if he failed to show up for his trial.