IndyCar issued $40,000 in fines - $30,000 to Sebastian Saavedra for making an obscene gesture - and placed two drivers on probation Thursday for incidents at Detroit last weekend.
Saavedra was penalized for flashing both of his middle fingers at Marco Andretti after contact between the two in Saturday's doubleheader opener at Belle Isle ended Saavedra's day. The obscene gesture was caught on live television. IndyCar said in fining Saavedra he can pay the money or work it off by making appearances on behalf of the series.
''Quite an expensive one,'' Saavedra tweeted moments after the penalty was announced. ''I guess ill stop getting my everyday hair massage until I pay it off.''
Saavedra is known for his eccentric hairstyle.
On Friday, Saavedra said he was surprised ''big time'' by the $30,000 fine. While he knew he would get a penalty for his gesture, he was mad when he heard what the amount of the fine was.
IndyCar also placed Will Power on probation for the rest of the season for throwing his gloves at Sebastien Bourdais following an accident during Sunday's race. Bourdais was placed on probation for the rest of the year for comments made toward officials on pit road after the same accident.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, meanwhile, was fined $10,000 for a pair of technical violations found on James Jakes' car after Friday qualifying. The team was fined $5,000 for each violation, which both involved the rear wing.
IndyCar last weekend suspended a $10,000 fine levied against Jakes in the Indianapolis 500 for violating the blend line as he exited pit road during the race.
Jakes advanced to the Fast Six round of qualifying on Friday for the first time in his career, and finished a career-best second in Sunday's race.
