NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Nelson Piquet Jr was reportedly fined and ordered to “sensitivity training” for using a “gay slur on social media.”

The [NASCAR] Code of Conduct in the rule book says a driver “shall not make or cause to be made a public statement and/or communication that criticizes, ridicules or otherwise disparages another person based upon that person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, or handicapping condition.”

Interestingly, Piquet’s apology included a statement that 

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

He may have been referring to the fact he’s European and largely grew up in Brazil, where the “poor choice of words” sometimes has a different meaning.

In a bit of irony — or blindness to moral inconsistency — a few articles used an accompanying photo from the recent Chicagoland race.  That weekend, Piquet’s car had “Hooters” emblazoned across the hood and rear panels.

Good thing that’s not offensive to anyone…

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