Tracy, Tagliani and Legge punished

The Canadian was running in second place when brake problems with his Forsythe Championship Racing Lola-Ford sent him down an escape road on lap 52.

Tracy completed a 180-degree spin turn and then emerged from the escape road, slamming into Tagliani's Team Australia car and smashing both cars against a wall.

Tracy's penalty and fine have been meted out by officials 'for violation of Champ Car Rule 6.29 concerning unjustifiable risk'.

Both he and Tagliani have also been fined an unspecified amount for their brief fight in the pitlane afterwards.

Tagliani twice remonstrated with Tracy in bold terms, both times grabbing his comptriot's overalls. Tracy eventually responded with his fists after giving Tagliani several warnings.

Both are found guilty of violating Champ Car Rule 2.6 regarding conduct, specifically 'Participants engaged in any event must refrain from intentional physical contact with any participant, inappropriate or profane language...and unsportsmanlike behavior.'

The 'fines' are likely to be served by way of unpaid-for appearances representing the Champ Car World Series, rather than actual cheque-writing.

Britain's Katherine Legge has also been placed on probation for the next three races for 'on-track misconduct'.

The English PKV Racing driver twice collided with Andrew Ranger in the course of the race at San Jose, the second occurrence coming while she unlapped herself.