IndyCar fines Houston winner Huertas for penalties

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The IndyCar Series fined Carlos Huertas $10,000 on Wednesday for two infractions on his winning car during the first race of last weekend’s Grand Prix of Houston.

The No. 18 car for Dale Coyne Racing violated the fuel cell capacity and the height of its rear right wing. The team was fined $5,000 for each penalty.

IndyCar did not strip Huertas of the win because it says the infractions did not impact the finishing order of the race or final position of his team.

Dale Coyne Racing used strategy to get Huertas and teammate Justin Wilson to the front. Wilson eventually had to pit for fuel, and Huertas assumed the lead with just over seven minutes to go.

The 23-year-old Colombian rookie would go on to earn his first career victory.

Dale Coyne Racing has four career wins, though two have now been penalized. Wilson’s car had unapproved pieces of bodywork fitted to its sidepods for his win in 2012 at Texas Motor Speedway. Wilson was docked five points and the team was fined $7,500. IndyCar did not strip him of the win.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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