Castroneves gets judge's OK for Australia race - report
MIAMI (AFP) — Helio Castroneves was given permission to race at an Indy-Car event later this month in Australia by a US judge Friday even though the Brazilian faces federal tax evasion charges, the Miami Herald reported.
Judge William Turnoff allowed two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Castroneves, 33, to drive in the Indy 300 on October 26 at Surfer's Paradise, Australia, the newspaper's web site reported.
Castroneves is free on a 10 million-dollar bond after being indicted last week on charges that he failed to pay taxes on more than five million dollars in income between 1999 and 2002.
Federal prosecutor Matthew Axelrod challenged the request by Castroneves to race in the event, fearing he could flee to Brazil, which might not allow extradition back to the United States to face trial.
David Garvin, Castroneves' lawyer, said the racer has more to lose by fleeing such as endorsements or his racing career.
Castroneves won last year's US television "Dancing with the Stars" competition and Turnoff, in making his decision to allow Castroneves to race in Australia, said he would be "Dancing with US Marshals" should he flee.
"I'm very happy," Castroneves said after the hearing. "I want to race. This is what I do. I'll do my best to bring a trophy home for the judge."
