IRL finally penalizes Kanaan

Indy Racing League officials changed their minds Thursday and decided to penalize Tony Kanaan for disobeying race control instructions at the end of last weekend's IndyCar Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

IRL president Brian Barnhart said Kanaan, who was leading the Gainsco Indy 300, will be held out of the first 30 minutes of today's practice for not pulling out of the racing line prior to the restart with three laps to go.

Kanaan had a damaged car after contact with rookie Ernesto Viso and was nursing it around the track to finish as high as possible.

Barnhart approved Kanaan's driving so long as he could keep up with the race's pace car. But when the race was about to restart and it was clear Kanaan couldn't maintain a competitive pace, Barnhart wanted the 2004 series champion to pull onto the track's deceleration lane as the field came to the green flag.

Kanaan chose to remain in the middle of the track as the cars came through the fourth turn. The scramble behind him created a dangerous situation.

Barnhart, who is in charge of all on-track activities, shared his disappointment with Kanaan.

"We were pretty upset with him," said Barnhart, who initially said there would be no penalty. More at IndyStar