NASCAR issued fines and warnings to teams and drivers Wednesday for infractions during last weekend’s events at Auto Club Speedway. The biggest fine went to Danica Patrick who was fined $20,000 and placed on NASCAR probation through the completion of the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Points Races. The fine was a result of her actions after a crash during Sunday’s race.
On lap 120 Sunday, Patrick was running 19th exiting turn four and was running low along the frontstretch when she moved in front of the No. 5 Chevy being driven by Kasey Kahne. The two made contact and Patrick’s Chevy was turned headlong into the wall. The car went airborne before coming to a stop low on the track. Patrick exited her car and walked back towards the track gesturing at Kahne as he passed by.
NASCAR has already prohibited a driver from such actions starting in 2014 after driver Tony Stewart hit a driver during a non-NASCAR race after the driver walked on the track to confront Stewart.