IndyCar punishes Hunter-Reay over New Orleans crash

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The IndyCar Series docked driver Ryan Hunter-Reay three points and put him on probation for the next three races for his role in a three-car crash at the Grand Prix of Louisiana that collected Simon Pagenaud and Sebastien Bourdais last weekend.

IndyCar said Wednesday that the Andretti Autosport driver violated a rule on avoidable contact during a restart with less than 10 minutes remaining of the rain-shortened road race.

Hunter-Reay squeezed Pagenaud onto a wet spot, which caused the Frenchmen to slide onto grass and then back on track at the next turn, where he broadsided Hunter-Reay and collected Bourdais as all three cars slid off the track and into a tire wall.

Pagenaud later said he was basically driven off the track while Hunter-Reay maintained he did nothing wrong.

IndyCar also:

– Fined driver Francesco Dracone of Dale Coyne Racing $10,000 and placed him on probation for six races. Dracone’s car struck pit crew member Todd Phillips leaving a stop for tires and fuel. Phillips required stiches for a cut to one of his legs. A Dale Coyne crew member was also fined $500 for failing to have their visor down during fueling.

– Fined driver Marco Andretti of Andretti Autosport $500 for failing to keep his visor down during a pit stop. A crew member for the racing team was also fined $500 for failing to keep track of a tire during a pit stop.

– Fined a crew member of KVSH Racing $500 for going over the pit wall without a helmet.