Hunter-Reay calls IndyCar penalty 'b.s.'

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Indianapolis 500 champion did not appreciate being called out by IndyCar.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was penalized following IndyCar's review of the three-car accident that ended last weekend's race at NOLA Motorsports Park.

IndyCar ruled that Hunter-Reay forced Simon Pagenaud to the grass on the right side of Turn 3, which led to Pagenaud coming back on the track to spear Hunter-Reay's car. Sebastien Bourdais was collected.

All three drivers escaped injury, but Hunter-Reay was docked three championship points and put on probation for the next three races.

While being on probation is vague, it's rare for a driver of Hunter-Reay's experience and talent. He called it "b.s."

"I really do, and I told them that," he told The Indianapolis Star on Friday at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. "I've had a lot of guys come to me, a lot of drivers come to me, a lot of ex-drivers come to me, and tell me the same thing. They all disagree with the call."

Hunter-Reay said he held his racing line while Pagenaud went for "a low-percentage move on the outside on a wet track."

"Did you see the incident with Will Power and Tony Kanaan on the first lap?" Hunter-Reay asked. "(Power) ran him off the road; no call."

Hunter-Reay expects to react well to the controversy. He bounced back from triggering last year's seven-car pileup to win IndyCar's next race, at Barber Motorsports Park.

"That goes to show you I don't get into a mental trap when people think bad things about me," he said.