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INDIANAPOLIS — Preening and playing to the cameras, Helio Castroneves enjoyed the spoils of winning the Indy 500. 

Plotting and refusing to abandon hope, runner-up Paul Tracy figured there’s still a chance he might be declared the real champion. 

It was Castroneves’ day Monday, however, after an Indy Racing League official rejected a protest filed by Tracy’s team and upheld the Brazilian’s disputed victory. 

League vice president of operations Brian Barnhart said there was no conclusive proof Tracy had pulled ahead of Castroneves by the time the yellow flag came out on the 199th lap of Sunday’s race. 

Issue closed? Not necessarily. 

Tracy’s team has five days to appeal. At the champion’s dinner Monday night, Tracy accepted the second-place award, but was talking as though he still has a chance at being named the winner. “I think the race might still be ongoing,” Tracy said.