Penske "Embarrassed" By Tech Line Issues

Team owner Roger Penske says he is embarrassed that Kurt Busch’s Shell-Pennzoil Dodge did not appear on the starting grid until minutes before the start of Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Busch’s Dodge failed to pass pre-race inspection due to a minor rear end discrepancy – the latest in a series of minor inspection issues that have plagued the team in recent weeks – and Penske says NASCAR officials sent a message that the continued issues must stop.

“The last two or three weeks, we had been late getting through tech,” he said. “Then, if we had a little bit of a problem, we had to go back through again. (NASCAR) said, ‘We’ve had enough of you going back through for little things.’” Officials released the car from pre-race inspection just 10 minutes prior to the command to fire engines Sunday, after the national anthem had already been performed. It was a move designed to make a point, and Penske said Sunday that NASCAR’s message has been received.

“I’m going to sit down with (crew chief Steve) Addington and the guys this week and say, ‘We’ve got to have our car in inspection prior to qualifying and also prior to the race on time and not have this happen again.’” He also stressed that there have been no serious technical issues with the team’s cars, saying, ““It wasn’t anything big. We’ve had all our cars (inspected by) NASCAR after our wins and there’s no issue. It is embarrassing, obviously. These (NASCAR) guys can make it tough on you. They can hurt you if they want to. I think they gave us a wave.”

While Penske said the pre-race issues had nothing to do with the team’s disappointing, 22nd place finish, Busch disagreed. “We were late going through inspection and that set the tone for our day,” said the former Sprint Cup Series champion. “We were able to stay out and lead some laps under green and Steve Addington and the guys kept making changes and got our Dodge better by the end of the race. I just wish we could have started the race with the car that good."

Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said no penalties will be levied as a result of the #22 teams inspection issues.