.git ignored regardless of --git-dir value

[Shawn Ferris <shawn.ferris@gmail.com>]

Hi All --

Is it expected behavior to have the .git directory ignored, even after
specifying an alternate location with --git-dir? For example:

$ git --git-dir=.foo init
Initialized empty Git repository in /home/sferris/work/t/.foo/

$ mkdir .git
$ touch .git/filea

$ git --git-dir=.foo --work-tree=. add .

$ git --git-dir=.foo --work-tree=. status
# On branch master
#
# Initial commit
#
# Changes to be committed:
#   (use "git rm --cached <file>..." to unstage)
#
#    new file:   .foo/HEAD
#    new file:   .foo/config
#    new file:   .foo/description
#    new file:   .foo/hooks/applypatch-msg.sample
#    new file:   .foo/hooks/commit-msg.sample
#    new file:   .foo/hooks/post-update.sample
#    new file:   .foo/hooks/pre-applypatch.sample
#    new file:   .foo/hooks/pre-commit.sample
#    new file:   .foo/hooks/pre-rebase.sample
#    new file:   .foo/hooks/prepare-commit-msg.sample
#    new file:   .foo/hooks/update.sample
#    new file:   .foo/index.lock
#    new file:   .foo/info/exclude
#
# Changes not staged for commit:
#   (use "git add/rm <file>..." to update what will be committed)
#   (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
#
#    deleted:    .foo/index.lock
#
# Untracked files:
#   (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)
#
#    .foo/index
#    .foo/objects/

Notice that .foo was added, but .git was ignored. I would have
expected .foo to be ignored and .git to be added? (right, wrong or
indifferent..)

Thanks for any info!

Shawn