Bethlehem police say that IndyCar race driver Marco Andretti and two other men pushed open and broke the exit arm of the North Street parking garage on Tuesday night.

But Andretti, grandson of the legendary Mario Andretti and a third-generation race car driver, told The Express-Times today that he never touched the gate, though he did have trouble paying the parking fee.

He said it was the man in the car behind him who pushed the gate open after he became impatient when Andretti couldn’t get the automated payment system to work and lift the gate.

“He was laying on his horn,” Andretti was quoted as saying in the story.

Andretti, who lives in Bushkill Township, told the newspaper that he tried four different credit cards and cash, but that the electronic system would not accept the payment.

Police said Andretti was identified through an electronic records search and one eyewitness account. About $1,000 of damage was caused during the incident, which took place at about 10:30 p.m., police said.