Johnson & Gordon BUSTED!!?

Question

from NASCAR.com:
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said both cars "failed the initial inspection ... as a result of body modifications found to be outside NASCAR tolerances. The front fender [of both cars] was modified outside of NASCAR regulations. They did not meet the C2 template inspection."

"When we presented the cars for inspection today [NASCAR] found our fenders were outside their limits in between the templates," said Doug Duchardt, Hendrick Motorsports' vice president of development. "The cars fit the templates. We thought we could work on the points between the templates and it became clear to us [in inspection] that we could not."

***How do ya feel about this, and what are your projected fines, suspensions etc etc.
Gordon will have to come from the back to get his tenth road course win.....tough, but doable.

In my opinion Knauss should really get the book thrown at him for all his Prior "Gray area" busts in the past coupla years. He may be the best crew cheif in the pits, but his record isn't good.

Answer 1

Well, if NASCAR is fair, they will give Gordon and Johnson the same penalty (or at least the same type of reason for penalty) as they gave Rusty Wallace a few years ago at the least when his car failed inital inspection before the car even hit the track.

If they do penaltize though, whatever Gordon gets, Johnson gets worse, because of his crew cheif, and his history.

Answer 2

Mearn, maybe you will learn that their shot at winning is not gone, what did you turn into Nastrodamous or something? There's a first for everything and it is possible, records are made to be broken!!(HINT, no one ever won from the Pole at Phoenix and Talladega, but I think you know who did that this year) the reason no one has come from the back is that there has only been a handful of good racers on road courses and they all qualify up front. Now if Gordon is as good as he usually is there, then it IS POSSIBLE!

Not dissapointed with them, hey what if you could do that, it is something not in the rules in print,(a grey area) unlike where the wing inncident is very much in the front page print. This is where you get to see how strong that organizion really is!!

Can't penalize anything that can't be backed up. Don't forget to put something in the rules manual, and have smarter people penalized for being smarter than the rest. That's how far ahead they really are on that car than anyone else, even Nascar themselves.

THE CARS DID FIT THE TEMPLATE.

Answer 3

Well, I think NASCAR maybe throwing the BIG BOOK at them with the practice restriction. This can go two ways.
In addition a equal or greater point reduction/fine and crew chief suspension than previous COT penalties.

or

Since the practice and field starting penalties, it will be less thus starting the "unfair" claim of fans.

Looking at it (comparing to DEI), Respectfully I think since it was an areo-modification trying for a clear advantage over the rest of the field and not a minor infraction of a wing bracket. On top of the practice and line up restriction, they should get 100 points docked per car, $100,000.00 fine each and crew chiefs suspended 6 races. For two crew chiefs making the same adjustment from the same stable, I think it should reflect an additional probation and/or owner point reduction on the whole HMS stable as well.

Answer 4

I find it odd that Hendrick motorsports has been running away with COT races this year. I wonder if NASCAR had been tipped by someone else that they were modifying between the templates. Because I thought they had either found a loophole or had the perfect setup with brand new COT. I think this may be what NASCAR needs to level the field with COT races...I see big fines and some minor suspensions.

Answer 5

Hard to say what or how to penalize.But due to the fact that the modifications did not fit templates and the fact that BOTH are built in the same shop then the book should be thrown at both.Put them in their hailers and send them east.

Answer 6

It is disheartening to hear your favorite team cheated, but I guess life goes on . I am a 24 and 48 fan. I am finding it hard to keep supporting Chad, even though he seems pretty cool on the interviews i've seen of him.
I expect great things out of Steve Letarte, he's proven to be valuable. I hope he learns a lesson out of all this.
If anyone can win this from the back of the pack 24 can!

Answer 7

They tried to push the rules and got busted. Now they get to deal with the penalties.

Their shot at winning on Sunday is gone, nobody's ever won at Sonoma from further back than 13th, track position is just too important.

Answer 8

Very tough indeed. But if anyone can come from the back at a road course, I'd put my money on a guy who is a 9 time road course winner. It will definitely be more interesting come Sunday.

Answer 9

Ya its doable for Jeff,but what I really hate is giving the Hendirck haters ammo.While all the facts arent known , Im still very disappointed in the teams.

Answer 10

the guys still haven't got it. NASCAR said don't F with the cars but i bet they are going to get the message