Music: {allcanada} TAGLIANI, CONWAY, HUNTER-REAY ON PROBATION FOR AVOIDABLE CONTACT

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

{allcanada} TAGLIANI, CONWAY, HUNTER-REAY ON PROBATION FOR AVOIDABLE CONTACT

INDIANAPOLIS -- IndyCar officials have placed Canadian driver Alex Tagliani on probation through Dec. 31 for multiple instances of initiating avoidable contact during races this season.

Fellow drivers Mike Conway and Ryan Hunter-Reay have also been cautioned for the rest of 2011.

Tagliani was deemed in violation of the rule after the Lachenaie, Que., driver made contact with Will Power at the Honda Indy Toronto and Graham Rahal at the Edmonton Indy.

Conway was penalized for avoidable contact with Ryan Briscoe at Toronto and Oriol Servia at Edmonton.

Teammate Hunter-Reay was cited for the same violation after contact with Briscoe at the Indy Grand Prix of Alabama and Takuma Sato at Edmonton.

IndyCar president of competition Brian Barnhart says he is disappointed in all three drivers. IndyCar says it may impose other penalties if the pattern continues.