Angry Tracy brands Kniefel 'a clown'.

A bitterly disappointed Paul Tracy turned on the CART stewards after retiring from the Honda Grand Prix of Monterey after an accident in the pits.

The Canadian tangled with Penske's Helio Castroneves as the Brazilian was attempting to leave his pit stall and Tracy trying to enter his. With neither driver willing to give ground, there was a touch of wheels as they passed under the spectator bridge, and Tracy's Team Green Reynard ended up nudging the wall. Suspension damage incurred in the incident eventually led to a retirement out on the track.

What angered Tracy most, however, was the fact that Castroneves was able to continue running without penalty, a decision that led the Canadian to suggest that "a circus clown could run the series better than [current chief steward] Chris Kniefel".

"What put me out was bent suspension from when Castroneves turned me around in pit-lane, but what is more upsetting is the way this series is being run," he fumed, "Castroneves turns me around in the pit-lane and he doesn't get penalised for it - I've got bent suspension and I'm out of the race when I had a podium car."

Castroneves went on to finish sixth on the road, despite minor suspension damage of his own.

"We had a good second stop, but the exit to the pits isn't level and, when I got side-by-side with the #26 car [Tracy], my car swerved to the right causing me to bang wheels with him," the Brazilian offered, "It was a shame because I hurt my hand when the steering wheel snapped back, and it bent the right front upper wishbone. Luckily, we were able to keep going."

CART has yet to announce any sanctions against the regularly outspoken Tracy.