IRS says Castroneves owes taxes on $5M

March 10, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

MIAMI — To this day, race car driver and “Dancing with The Stars” winner Helio Castroneves hasn’t seen a single dime of $5 million in licensing money he was promised under a 1999 contract with Penske Racing. It’s either been parked at Penske or is still idling in a Dutch investment account.

But the Internal Revenue Service says Castroneves owes U.S. income taxes on the money anyway, contending the 33-year-old driver can’t avoid tax by simply refusing cash to which he’s entitled. A complex concept known as “constructive receipt” is at the heart of the prosecution’s case against the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.

Testimony resumes today in the tax trial of Castroneves, his business-manager sister Katiucia Castroneves and his lawyer Alan Miller of Birmingham, Mich. All are charged in a seven-count federal indictment with conspiracy and tax evasion from 1999 to 2004.

Martha Stewart’s dog dies in kennel explosion

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Martha Stewart’s chow puppy, Ghengis Khan, was one of 17 dogs killed in an accidental propane explosion Friday at Pazzazz Pet Boarding, a kennel in the Pocono Mountains that breeds and trains show dogs.

The kennel in Lehighton was getting a propane delivery when the tank ignited, setting the pens on fire and injuring the driver, Timothy Kleinhagen, of Summit Hill. He was listed in critical condition Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Grand Ole Opry member Hank Locklin dies in Ala.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country singer Hank Locklin, whose smooth tenor voice on hits such as “Send Me the Pillow You Dream On” and “Please Help Me I’m Falling” marked a career that spanned half a century, has died. He was 91.

Locklin helped usher in “the Nashville Sound” that gave country music a more lush feel. He performed on the Grand Ole Opry for more than 40 years.

GM ends sponsorship of filmmaker Ken Burns

DETROIT — General Motors Corp. is ending its 22-year support for Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

GM spokeswoman Kelly Cusinato says the financial crisis “has forced GM to rein in such spending.”

Burns has made a string of high-profile public TV documentaries, including “The Civil War,” “Jazz” and “Baseball.” His last GM-backed project is “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” a six-part series airing this fall.

Today’s birthdays

Talk show host Ralph Emery is 76. Actor Chuck Norris is 69. Actress Shannon Tweed (“Falcon Crest”) is 52. Actress Sharon Stone is 51. Bassist Gail Greenwood of L7 is 49. Magician Lance Burton is 49. Actress Jasmine Guy (“A Different World”) is 47. Bassist Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam is 46. Actor Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”) is 38. Country singer Daryle Singletary is 38. Rapper-producer Timbaland is 37. Guitarist Jerry Horton of Papa Roach is 34. Singer Robin Thicke is 32. Singer Carrie Underwood (“American Idol”) is 26. Actress Emily Osment (“Hannah Montana”) is 17.