Castroneves loses third after protest

In a reversal of the two places, Penske driver Castroneves dropped to fourth after stewards reviewed video evidence that proved the Brazilian passed under waved yellows when leaving the pits after a stop on lap 100 of the 140-lap race.

Newman-Haas also claimed that Castroneves switched off his pit lane limiter before leaving the pits after the final round of stops.

Castroneves jumped from eighth to third during the stops, and da Matta believed the Penske driver's move was against the regulations.

"If they give him third, it's a joke," he said immediately after the race. "It's very clear he switched off the limiter leaving the pits; he just went right by me."

The move is seen as another example of CART chief steward Chris Kneifel's quest to make the series' penalty issues more decisive and quicker acting than they have appeared in the past.

Penske has appealed the decision and the case will be heard by a CART-appointed judge. With the championship reaching a climax, this is likely to be within the next week.