Rick Mears, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner,...

Rick Mears, a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, and a companion were fined $20,000 each and forfeited the skins of two grizzly bears after pleading no contest to misdemeanor game violations in Alaska.

Businessman Michael Stier said that he and Mears, both of Bakersfield, were unaware they were violating state law because they were hunting with a licensed guide during a 1987 trip. But Stier conceded that “ignorance is no excuse.” Mears was unavailable for comment.