Publication: NASCAR News
Gordon, Johnson docked for violations | |
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NASCAR NEWS - Thursday, June 28, 2007
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Gordon, Johnson docked 100 points for violations
Crew chiefs Letarte, Knaus suspended for six races
By NASCAR.COM
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - NASCAR has issued penalties and fines
to the No. 24 and No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports teams that
compete in the Nextel Cup Series, as a result of rule
infractions found this past weekend at Infineon Raceway
in Sonoma, Calif.
Both cars -- the No. 24 driven by Jeff Gordon and the
No. 48 driven by Jimmie Johnson -- were found to be in
violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock
car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or
equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); 20-2.1E
(parts or components of the car not previously approved
by NASCAR that have been installed or modified to enhance
aerodynamic performance will not be permitted); and 20-2H
(fenders may not be cut or altered except for wheel or tire
clearance which must be approved by the Series Director) of
the 2007 NASCAR rule book. The violations were found during
the initial inspection process last Friday.
As a result, Gordon and Johnson have each been penalized
100 driver championship points. Their respective crew
chiefs -- Steve Letarte and Chad Knaus -- have each been
fined $100,000, suspended for the next six Nextel Cup
Series events until Aug. 15 and placed on probation until
Dec. 31, 2007.
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In addition, Rick Hendrick, owner of the No. 24, has been
penalized 100 car owner championship points as has Gordon,
who is the owner of the No. 48.
"We are disappointed in NASCAR's decision and feel the
penalties are excessive," Hendrick said. "Right now, all
of our options are being evaluated, including our personnel
situation and a possible appeal to the National Stock Car
Racing Commission.
"We'll take some time to decide on a direction and make an
announcement regarding our plans for New Hampshire later
in the week."
Gordon's lead in the driver standings was reduced to 171
points on second place Denny Hamlin. Johnson, who was
third, dropped to fifth in points behind Matt Kenseth
and Jeff Burton. He remains 366 points behind Gordon.
NASCAR parked the cars of Gordon and Johnson on Friday at
Sonoma after each failed its Car of Tomorrow inspection
prior to that day's activities at Infineon Raceway. Neither
car was allowed on the track for the opening practice
session of that day's qualifying.
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In initial inspection Friday, NASCAR officials discovered a
10-inch piece of front fender on each of the Hendrick cars
had been modified illegally.
Gordon and Johnson started the Toyota/Save Mart 350 41st
and 42nd on the grid, respectively. Gordon rallied to
finish seventh; Johnson forged his way forward before
dropping back to 17th.
The infractions mark the second major COT violation in the
past three races involving the new car. The No. 8 Chevrolet
team was penalized after officials at Darlington discovered
rear-wing brackets had been mounted illegally.
The punishment levied by NASCAR against the two Hendrick
teams is consistent with the penalties it handed down
against the 8 team. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked 100
championship points and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. was
suspended for six races. Eury will serve the last of his
suspension this week at New Hampshire.
NASCAR has been busy this season fining and suspending some
of its top teams. The teams of Michael Waltrip, Kasey Kahne,
Elliott Sadler and Kenseth were penalized for violations
in preparation for the Daytona 500.
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Waltrip received the worst of the punishment, as crew
chief David Hyder, who is no longer with the team, and
competition director Bobby Kennedy receiving indefinite
suspensions.
Robbie Reiser, crew chief for Kenseth, and Kenny Francis,
team director for Kahne, were each suspended for four races
while the team directors of Sadler and teammate Scott Riggs
received two-race suspensions.
It will mark the second consecutive year Johnson will race
without Knaus atop his pit box. Knaus was suspended for the
first four races of 2006 when the 48 failed post-qualifying
inspection for the Daytona 500. Knaus, who had been under
NASCAR scrutiny before, was ejected from Speedweeks.
Undeterred, Johnson won the Daytona 500 and two of the four
races without Knaus. He finished second and sixth in the
other two races and went on to win his first Nextel Cup
championship.
Kenseth won his only race this year, at Fontana, without
Reiser. It stood as the only non-Chevy win of the season
until Carl Edwards won two weeks ago at Michigan and Juan
Montoya got Dodge its first victory last week at Sonoma.
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