IMSA, the sanctioning body for the American Le Mans Series, announced Monday that it has placed drivers Jorg Bergmeister and Jan Magnussen on a two-race probation period for the start of the 2010 season with a minimum two race suspension in abeyance, for their parts in the "avoidable contact" that resulted in GT2 driver Magnussen crashing heavily on the last lap.
Should either driver commit further offenses in the first two rounds of 2010, he will receive at minimum a two-race ban from competition by IMSA.
After the race, neither Magnussen nor Bergmeister seemed particularly upset with the other about the incident, in which the Corvette driver was spun into the wall as he battled with Flying Lizard Porsche driver for the GT2 class victory on the run to the line. Magnussen was taken to the circuit's medical center for checks, where it was confirmed that he had not been hurt, and the Dane and co-driver Johnny O'Connell were still classified second.
"It was really good, hard racing," said Magnussen.
"I'm definitely sorry Jan went into the wall," Bergmeister said. "I didn't want that to happen. But it was a banging game. I'm glad he's OK. It was tough racing."