NASCAR Fines Piquet, Junior For Instagram Slur

((HT: NASCAR their own selves))

Nelson Piquet Jr. has been fined $10,000, is required to participate in sensitivity training as directed by NASCAR, and was placed on indefinite probation for violating the sanctioning body’s Code of Conduct policy.

On September 25, Piquet violated Sections 7-5 (Code of Conduct) and 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the 2013 NASCAR rule book by posting an anti-gay slur on Instagram. Piquet commented on a photo that fellow Nationwide Series driver Parker Kligerman posted of himself, and he used a three-letter slur as a one-word description of Kligerman.

You can pretty much guess what the word was...
The post was subsequently deleted...

“Nelson Piquet Jr. recently communicated an offensive and derogatory term that cannot be tolerated in our sport,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “NASCAR’s Code of Conduct explicitly spells out in the 2013 rule book our position regarding the use of disparaging terms. We expect our entire industry to abide by this Code.”

Piquet apologized rather quickly...

"I sincerely apologize to everyone for my poor choice of words last week. I did not mean to hurt or offend anyone."

"This has been a cultural learning experience that will make me a more sensitive person moving forward."

Turner Scott Motorsports said in a statement it had addressed the issue with Piquet, who understood the team does not tolerate such remarks.

"TSM expects those associated with the team to uphold professional standards that we can all be proud of. Nelson has assured the team that he has learned his lesson and he knows what it means to represent TSM."

It's not the first time this season that Piquet was drawn attention to himself...
Witness the place-kicking event that he had with Brian Scott...
((HT: NASCAR))

Nelson Piquet Junior Goes Up The Middle (UPDATED WIth Arrests)

((HT: LP2008/NASCAR/NASCARImages/ESPN))

And the HQ doesn't necessarily mean in a good way...

Piquet and Brian Scott got into it in the race last night in Richmond and it ended only in the way that makes live television live television...

In a pit crew fight...
Evidence below...


In the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper this morning, we now know that there have been arrests involving pit crew members as a carryover from the incident on TV.

Michael Scearce, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of assault. Thomas Costello was charged with one misdemeanor count of assault. The two were charged and released early this morning. Both are on the Scott crew.

From the Times-Dispatch:

"One of the two adult male victims has a shoulder injury," Toney said.

“Henrico Police are investigating a verbal argument that started in the infield area of RIR that escalated into a physical altercation near the Driver/Owner Lot,” Lt. Linda Toney said in a news release. “The assault occurred at approximately 11:15 p.m.”

Here's their mugshot, thanks to the Henrico Division of Police...