Subaru Motorsports USA has been fined $10,000 for its controversial qualifying tactics in round two of Nitro Rallycross at ERX Motor Park.
In the final of the battle bracket, Scott Speed effectively threw the race when he elected not to pull away from the lights straight away, handing an easy win to Peugeot driver Kevin Hansen.
The move guaranteed that Speed and third-place qualifier Travis Pastrana would be in different heats on Sunday and, were they to win their individual heats, they would lock out the front row of the grid.
It paid off as Pastrana muscled past Hansen to dominate the first heat, while Speed bettered Steve Arpin off the line to win the second from the third Subaru of Andreas Bakkerud – ensuring that Pastrana and Speed will both start Sunday’s showpiece final on the front row of the grid.
Subaru’s tactics were deemed to amount to unsportsmanlike conduct, leading to the fine, which will be donated to a local breast cancer charity in Minnesota.
“After conducting a meeting with the Subaru team manager and driver of the #41 (Scott Speed), the stewards have considered the matter and determine the following: The Subaru team breached 16.5 in sporting regulations of unsportsmanlike conduct on or off the track,” read a competition bulletin signed by stewards Richard Buck and Chris Wheeler and seen by DirtFish.
“For actions deemed detrimental to the series, the Subaru team will be fined $10,000 which will be donated to a local Minneapolis charity as chosen by the series.”
