NASCAR
dropped the hammer on Hendrick Motorsports, driver Jimmie Johnson and crew
chief Chad Knaus today for body violations detected during pre-qualifying
inspection for the Daytona 500.
 |
| Knaus socked by NASCAR |
The
No. 48 car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental
to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that race
equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules detailed in
Section 20 of the rule book or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the
event); and 20-2.1E (if in the judgment of NASCAR officials, any part or
component of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that has been installed
or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance will not be permitted –
unapproved car body modifications).
The
sanctioning body penalized Johnson 25 championship driver points, docked team-owner
Rick Hendrick an identical number of owner points, suspended Knaus and car
chief Ron Malek for six races and fined Knaus $100,000. The monetary penalty is
less than the $200,000 fine assessed to Carl Long for an illegal engine at the 2008 All-Star Race. The point
deduction leaves Johnson -- who finished 42nd in the
season-opening Daytona 500 after crashing on the opening lap -- at minus-23
points heading to Phoenix International Raceway this weekend. He becomes only
the second driver in NASCAR history to have a negative point total, after
Michael Waltrip was docked 100 points for illegal fuel additives prior to the
2007 Daytona 500.
Hendrick
has promised to appeal any sanctions.
Not surprised. In line with window modifications a year or so ago with Waltrip. Number 6 will be uphill battle. Hendrick appeal should be interesting
ReplyDeleteI guess these were changes made after the approval given by NASCAR in Charlotte? Thats why the penalty?
ReplyDeleteTbirdmedic
yikes!!! they really don't want Jimmie to be 6X do they?
ReplyDeleteI think it was his history more than anything that ticked off the powers that be. Cheating, pushing the envelope, whatever you call it, you can only push them so far before they make you realize who the boss is. Either way, it doesn't look good for a 5X Championship team. Take your lumps and either learn or keep getting hit with the rolled up paper!
ReplyDeleteWow.NASCAR is making sure Jimmie doesn't win a 6th championship. I don't think a driver has ever had negative points.
ReplyDeleteRead the story again. Michael Waltrip did.
DeleteDidn't read the article, did you? MW had negative points in 2007.
DeleteHe should be fired
ReplyDeleteCouldn't happen to a better bunch They think they're special
ReplyDelete$100,000? seriously? hendrick pockets are deeper than that. Should have been at least $500,000, and 1 year suspension. CK's history shows that he don't care about the rules.
ReplyDeleteyes negative points with Michael Waltrip.
ReplyDeleteRicky is wasting his money trying to appeal this. NASCAR knows if they reverse any part of the ruling black helicopters will be flying everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI do not understand the arguments that I have read with "the car never hit the track," etc. There are such crimes, in the judicial systems, which are based solely on intent. In short terms, a person can be held accountable for the outcome of their actions, even if the outcomes are not what they foresaw. If someone would like more information, look-up the term 'Mens rea' Studying this in college I have found this can be applied for items inside, and outside, of courts of law. This is one of those instances. Also, a record is never really 'wiped clean' as some would like to say.
ReplyDeleteYet, Bowyer goes out on the racetrack, runs his qualifying laps, is out of spec and has to go to the rear of the field. Johnson's car never made it on the track, fit the templates, never turned a lap, and he's penalized owners & drivers points, and a crew chief suspension. I know Knaus is a repeat offender, but for a car that never turned a lap to incur this sort of penalty, while a illegal car that ran qualifying laps is only penalized by going to the rear of the field. Something is way out of whack here.
ReplyDeleteYour argument is flawed.
DeleteNASCAR made it known in '07 that ANY deviation from their specs on the the bodies of the COT would be dealt with very harshly. What happened to the 48 team fit within NASCAR's 2007 statement. Their judgement is final and just because it fit the claw doesn't mean that it is within tolerance. Their are immeasurable tolerances that are judgement calls. Not everything is quanitified. Messing with bodies and engines will get you suspended no questions asked. (example: MWR windshields at Talladega 2011, engine @ Daytona 2007, Carl Long "Big Engine" Charlotte 2009)
The 15 team on the other hand is dealing with failing the height sticks. It never turned a race lap and was dealt with like it has been in the past for other drivers. I can count 3 situations from 2011 off the top of my head that happened exactly like what happened to the 15 and were dealt with the same way. Do not get this confused with the 33 team in NH in 2010. They failed the height sticks AFTER the race.
There is no consistency issue as you are implying.
Not sure where Nascar wants to take this sport. Let the guys in the shop BUILD the cars. It's OK to give them a box to work in, but let's not turn this into something like IROC where everything is completly cookie cutter race car. Trust me, I wasn't a fan of the Twisted Sister, but the box,I think gives no room for innovation. That's why Nascar bacame so successful in the first place. Race cars and teams had an identidy. They were different then other auto racing around the globe. If the sanctioning body isn't careful then look out! This thing we all love called NASCAR will be no different than the others. Please give them a bigger box. Or if were all going to be exactly the same. The teams could save a %@!# load of money and have Nascar just provide eveyone with a car and all the'll have to do is pay a flat rate and put their decails on and go racing. I hope that this isn't where were going. Lets be creative in the shops. If the car fits the mold then it should be LEGAL.
DeleteNascar is making me sick with there inconsistency.Make it equal for everyone.
DeleteI guess I better drop Junkie from my fantasy league for 6 races.
ReplyDeleteI agree, he showed up "intending" to run that car. And also there have have been cars that are confiscated when they show up to the track illegal. They are repeat offenders, and really, $100,000 and six races....not much of a fine, the points are worse. But, this early, all they need to do is get in the top 10 in 26.
ReplyDeleteTo Micheal in socal NASCAR said bowyers car was to low and that he was given benefit of doubt due to a shock broken or tire pressure low. They have made it perfectly clear they r gonna come down hard on blatant body modifications also with Chad being a 4 time offender a slap on the hand wouldn't have appropriate.
ReplyDeleteFour time, one time, what dif does it make?
DeleteThe rules say if a car is presented to NASCAR at a track for pre race inspection then it has to adhere to every rule and standard in the NASCAR rulebook. Weather it races or not is immaterial. IF a car fails Post race inspection then it is even worse as it indicates that the car was tampered with after passing inspection.
ReplyDeleteIntent does not matter.. we have that discussion every time someone is penalized.
If, and I know how Moody likes that word 'if', someone is pulled over with illegal drugs, and admits to be on their way to sell such drugs, should they be let go because they intended to deliver such drugs but was caught? The word intent matters just as much as the word commit. They are both violations of the rules.
Delete$100,000 to Chad Knaus??? It will be paid for by Mr Hendrick! $100,000 to him is like throwing a deck chair off the Queen Mary! Or feeding a tic tac to a whale! What a joke.
ReplyDeleteLast time Chad got suspended like this, The 48 went on to win his first of 5 Championships!! Maybe its an omen??
ReplyDeleteHoly crap.
ReplyDeleteDoug from NJ
Once a cheater always a cheater
ReplyDeleteis the risk worth the reward- personally i think so 5timesHMMM @_badream
ReplyDeletePeople forget that Chad's best bud from their youth was Joe Shear Jr, who just happens to be banned from NASCAR for life for cheating too. If it were not for the fact that Chad works for Rick Hendrick, and he has 5 championship rings. He would have been banned as well.
ReplyDeletehmmm, too bad.you know what they say; if you sit in a barbers chair long enough, sooner or later you're gonna get a haircut....phoenix, here we come!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of racing is to see who is the fastest, the luckiest and finishes first across the line. Of course some rules are needed.
ReplyDeleteThis is how I see what is happening. Political Correctness and PARITY. What do these have to do with racing? Of course we have to watch the words we use, especially in front of children. These drivers and crews are shackled pretty good these days. White gloves and white scarfs may be next.
Parity is here. Look how close the lap times are. If car mechanics were left to find more horse power just maybe we could get away from pack racing. If your car's mechanic is better than mine and can blow my doors off and leave me in the dust more power to him/her.
Heck, why not have NASCAR provide cars at the track store. Teams can go in before the race pick out a model and go racing. No need for inspections/inspectors. BORING!!!
This is why I typically watch the last 50 laps of a race. I will listen to the race on TV while doing something else and watch the replay if needed.
I think I will make trips to the local short track this summer.
Well. I'm sure Jimmie will do fine here without Chad. I just don't understand the cheating. If you have a good driver like Jimmie why push the envelope? You don't need to.
ReplyDelete