Ingall disqualified after Skaife controversy.

Stone Brothers Racing's Russell Ingall has been disqualified from the VIP Petfoods Main Event at Sydney's Eastern Creek Raceway, after swerving towards rival Mark Skaife, who was standing by the trackside.

The controversy began when Ingall, and Skaife collided while battling for third place at about two-thirds distance.

Skaife speared off the circuit in the incident and into a concrete wall, ending any chance the #1 Holden driver had of claiming second place in the championship.

The situation though didn't end there, and Skaife remained by his car, waiting for Ingall to come past the scene again. As he did, the Holden driver remonstrated with the Ford hard man and in turn, Ingall swerved towards the standing Skaife.

Defending his actions, Ingall commented: "When I came around the corner and saw him on the track, I thought he was going to throw something so I backed off and drove towards him so he could not get a full lob at it. I thought he was going to throw his helmet or something."

The subsequent stewards' hearings, which lasted until almost 11.00pm, concluded that:

Ingall:

- For his part in the initial contact, he was penalised 70 championship points,
- For conduct prejudicial to the sport (by swerving towards Skaife), he received a $15,000 fine and was excluded from the meeting,
- A 12-month suspended penalty of a 3-round suspension, to be of good behaviour.

Skaife:

- For his part in the initial contact, he was penalised 30 championship points. Skaife has indicated he will appeal this decision,
- For remaining by his car and not retiring behind the concrete wall, for disobeying an official's directive (to move behind the wall) and conduct prejudicial to the sport, he received a $10,000 fine and was penalised 75 series points,
- A 12-month suspended penalty of a 3-round suspension, to be of good behaviour.

Due to this Ingall drops from fourth in the overall drivers' championship to ninth. Skaife's third place was not affected.