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Andretti Green Racing decided to boycott and held their own autograph session at the team's merchandise trailer. It wasn't the separate lines that had team owners Andretti, Kim Green and Kevin Savoree fuming, it was the manner in which it was done. The drivers were not involved in the decision to boycott and, in fact, a meeting was held on Tuesday the 26th between AGR and the IRL to iron out the problem.
INDY RACING LEAGUE FINES ANDRETTI GREEN RACING FOR FAILURE TO REQUIRE AUTOGRAPH SESSION PARTICIPATION
INDIANAPOLIS, Thursday, July 28, 2005 -- The Indy Racing League fined the owners of IRL IndyCar® Series entrant Andretti Green Racing (AGR) an undisclosed amount for failing to require its drivers to participate in the mandatory autograph session on July 23 at The Milwaukee Mile.
AGR was penalized for violating Section 7.1 (B) of the IndyCar Series Rule Book (Additional Driver Activities) which states: "During events, IRL shall conduct Driver autograph sessions and Driver introductions. Failure to participate or failure to attend for the designated amount of time may result in fines and/or other penalties."
The fine was announced after IRL officials held face-to-face meetings with AGR earlier this week.
"The decision by the team principals not to have their drivers appear at the league-mandated autograph session is a very serious situation," said Brian Barnhart, president and chief operating officer of the Indy Racing League. "I know that all of our teams, including AGR, understand that an important aspect of the League's identity is accessibility."
"Moving forward, the league will not hesitate to transition from fines to more severe penalties such as moving cars to the back of the field or even a deduction in championship points.
AGR may contest the imposition of the penalty pursuant to the protest and appeal procedures in the Rule Book. This may result in an increase, decrease or no change to the penalty.