Dominguez penalised for accident

The Mexican was alongside Bruno Junqueira's Newman/Haas car between Turns 3 and 4 of the series' only oval on the calendar when his Forsythe Championship Racing Lola understeered slightly up the track, and its right-front wheel tagged the left-rear of Junqueira.

Junqueira spun into the outer wall, while Dominguez's car was knocked sideways by the impact, and clipped the left rear tyre of his closely-following teammate, Paul Tracy sending him too into the Turn 4 wall. Both Junqueira and Tracy had to retire on the spot, while Dominguez got back to the pits but was withdrawn.

Champ Car Race Operations found Dominguez in violation of Rule 6.27, which concerns avoidable contact. Dominguez' penalty covers the points that he earned in Sunday's race after being classified 14th.

The rule states: "Any driver who in the opinion of the Officials initiates avoidable contact which results in the interruption of another competitor's lap time or track position will be subject to a penalty per Chapter 10.

"Should the contact result in the immediate retirement of the other competitor, further penalties may be assessed. Judgmental decisions by the Officials in this regard are not subject to protest or appeal."

Dominguez has also been placed on probation for the next three Champ Car events.

Dominguez's penalty takes him from third in the championship to joint fourth, with RuSPORT's AJ Allmendinger.

The big winner from this is Conquest's Andrew Ranger, who is now classified third in the points table on the strength of two sixth-place finishes and two sevenths, and one of the few drivers to have finished all four races.