TORONTO — IndyCar has placed Takuma Sato on probation for five races for running into Ryan Hunter-Reay on pit road at Pocono.

The penalty was announced about an hour before Saturday's race at Toronto.

IndyCar says Sato violated a rule that says a driver must not engage in reckless, careless or overly aggressive actions or unsportsmanlike behavior toward other members. Officials say he made avoidable contact with Hunter-Reay while entering pit lane last Sunday.

The probation runs through the Sept. 1 race at Baltimore.

IndyCar can penalize Sato further if he has any more incidents over the next five races.