Canadian Press
8/16/2006
INDIANAPOLIS (CP) - Champ Car has hit Toronto's Paul Tracy in the wallet - and the standings - for his role in a weekend dust-up with Sebastien Bourdais.
Tracy was fined $25,000 US and docked three championship points for running into his French rival on the final lap of Sunday's Grand Prix of Denver.
Champ Car justified the penalty by stating that "Tracy's on-track actions in Denver were determined to be in violation of his probation." The 37-year-old was given a three-race penalty for a crash and subsequent fight with fellow Canadian Alex Tagliani following the Grand Prix of San Jose on July 30.
Champ Car has extended Tracy's penalty for one more race, meaning he'll be on probation through the Lexmark Indy 300 in Australia on Oct. 22 - the second-last race of the season. The probationary period includes this weekend's Montreal Grand Prix, the final Canadian stop of the season.
While he's still allowed to race, any additional incidents could result in Tracy being penalized or fined further.
Between his collisions with Tagliani and Bourdais, Tracy has lost 10 championship points over his last two races.
Neil Micklewright, Forsythe's vice-president of team operations, disagreed with the decision.
"I believe that the penalty imposed to Paul Tracy for the last lap incident is simply wrong and not appropriate, but we have to accept the decision of the Series even if we don't agree with it," Micklewright said Tuesday in a statement. "That's the nature of the sport."
Micklewright believes Bourdais should also face Champ Car's ire. The defending series champion escaped sanctions Tuesday.
"We eagerly await the penalty that we believe should be handed to Sebastien Bourdais for his part in the incident, including running across a `hot' track and initiating physical contact with our driver," said Micklewright.
Tracy, who was having fuel problems late, was trying to hold off Bourdais heading into the final turn of the race. Bourdais passed Tracy for second, but Tracy locked the brakes and slid into Bourdais and both cars failed to finish.
Bourdais got out of his car and charged after Tracy. He pointed an accusing finger at Tracy, the two exchanged words, Bourdais shoved Tracy and then Bourdais stomped away.
Tracy, the 2003 series champion, is no stranger to controversy. In 2001, he was docked three points and fined $50,000 - one of the largest financial penalties in the circuit's history - for a series of indiscretions at the Monterrey Grand Prix, including unsportsmanlike conduct and criticism of officials.
He was also fined $25,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, rough driving and unjustifiable risk at the 1997 Grand Prix of Long Beach.