Auto GP 'too hard' with penalties, according to team boss Ghinzani

Ghinzani driver Kevin Giovesi lost his Sunday victory to Narain Karthikeyan when he was adjudged to have exceeded track limits at the start.

Race-one winner Meindert van Buuren had been similarly penalised for crossing the pit exit line, giving that win to Sergio Campana.

Ghinzani agreed that the penalty fitted the letter of the regulations, but was sceptical about how the punishments were applied.

"[Kevin] could not go to the left, he could not go to the front, so he went to the right where there is a line," Ghinzani told AUTOSPORT.

"He started very well, faster than the others, but at the top of the hill after the start he had no room because of some other cars. He was obliged to go right [if he wanted to maintain momentum] but there was a line.

"The 25-second penalty is right, but honestly, if you look at the situation this weekend, I have the impression the marshals are being too hard.

"When you are provoking an accident, OK, give a stop-go penalty. But when you just go a little bit over the line, why not give a financial penalty?

"The driver pays the money, the federation takes the money and then sponsors still have a result to show for their investment so they continue to pay.

"If they pay €60,000 for a race and don't have the profit of the result... I think it's too heavy."