I am not trying to defend Hendrick, but isn't it the job of the crew chief and the team to push the edge? If you listen to any old racer like DW or The King there were a lot of things that they tried. Yes, the Paragon of Virtue and Fair Play, Richard Petty went around the rules every now and then. All drivers have stretched the rules and found a little extra fuel mileage. If the Hendrick cars were found with that, what have they done that they haven't been caught with?
2007-06-23 10:56:09 · 13 answers · asked by mntazzy 2 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
yes it's cheating. nascar stated to all the drivers, crew chiefs, and the rest of the teams not to mess with the cot. with the punisment dale jr got, you'd think the crew chiefs would learn not to mess with the cot anymore. of chad knauss cheats anymore he should be suspended for a few races b/c he's cheated many of times before.
2007-06-26 17:13:50 · answer #1 · answered by heather e 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Junior was caught with wing mounting brackets that changed the angle of the wing for more downforce on the rear.
Johnson and Gordon were caught with a modification that added downforce to the front.
If anybody can explain how in Junior's case added downforce to the rear of a tight car (the COT) at Darlington was an advantage, I will admit Eury was cheating.
If anybody can explain how more downforce to the front of a tight car at Sonoma is a disadvantage, I will admit La Tarte and Knaus are honest.
If there is one dictum in NASCAR it would be the best cheaters rarely if ever get caught.
If they get caught several times operating in the "gray area" you can figure they sometimes venture into the "black", too
Sometimes the "gray area" is a diversion.
There is an article by Benny Phillips in "Stock Car Racing" magazine", March 2007 issue, about some of the more famous cheats and diversions.
One did involve the "King" in October 83 at Charlotte, the King's 198th win.
Petty never led until lap 312 of the 334-lap race when he passed DW.
Immediately after the race NASCAR could tell by the tire's serial numbers that left side tires had been put on the right, giving Petty a speed advantage. That was illegal but the fine was no more than $350.
That was the ruse.
Later NASCAR discovered the "big engine".
Displacement was 381.983 ci, well above the 358 ci limits.
After 3 hours of deliberation, NASCAR officials announced Petty could keep his 198th win but fined him $35,000 and docked him 104 points.
I guess since he cheated to outrun DW, a driver that NASCAR always suspected but never caught, Petty deserved the win.
Petty commented, “Maurice runs the engine room and whatever engines he decides on is what we put in the car. I’ve been telling the crew I need more horsepower and I guess they took me at my word.”
In other words, “I’m just the driver”.
It should be noted that at that race in 1983, NASCAR carted off a truckload of confiscated stuff.
Today’s cheats are sophisticated and sophistication is not putting obviously modified brackets in a visible location. Sophistication is more like tweaking fenders in areas where there is no template. My guess is that owners will have to add a couple of more templates to their inventory.
2007-06-23 22:02:56 · answer #2 · answered by crunch 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Considering that this rules violation wasn't even on the books and was something NASCAR just came up with on the fly; no it's not cheating and I expect that this is going to get really ugly real fast for NASCAR.
NASCAR is notorious for having a rulesbook written in pencil and that changes every week. Teams, Drivers, and Fans are beginning to get annoyed with NASCAR's penciled in rulebook. They won't consistency and fairness in competition; and to do that NASCAR needs to put their rulebook in ink and stick by it.
To penalize Teams simply because they say so is garbage; and that is exactly what happened on Friday. I know they need to make and enforce rules; but doing it in the garage on the day of qualifying is like grade school kids who change the rules in the middle of the game so they can win. It's unsportsman like and down righ unethical.
2007-06-25 13:07:52 · answer #3 · answered by Gene L 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HMS didn't do anything that they all have done and are doing every race. It is the job of the chief and team to do the best for their driver. The driver has to push the envelope everytime he pulls out on the track. How safe would he and the others be if the teams and chiefs haven't done there job?
2007-06-27 00:41:55 · answer #4 · answered by sandy h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What they did although I agree I would have only used one car, was see How closely Nascar is looking at the COT. It was deemed not to Nascar. This being a gray area this is where things have happened for years, now you can see they are watching everything just not the black and white. Called research while it won't hurt them now, they can make sure of what not to try or see if anyone else does come Chase time. I guess you have to have a rational mind and be able to explore more than one thing at a time to understand?
2007-06-23 18:28:55 · answer #5 · answered by 24's Thunder will roar again 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By definition, "gray area" is neither black or white, but open to interpretation. If NASCAR doesn't want teams messing with the cars, then they should eliminate the gray areas and make everything black and white. If a team isn't looking for an edge, then that team is going to fall behind. Everyone does it, only a few have been caught and punished.
2007-06-27 13:46:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the crew chief's were doing their job, trying to get their driver any advantage they could. They messed with an area they thought they could mess with, they were wrong and they are paying for it. Despite what anyone says I would bet that every competitive crew chief would do the same.
2007-06-26 22:48:24 · answer #7 · answered by MC 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they did this knowing it would be noticed at inspection. If it was one of those black and white areas they wouldn't have messed with that part of the front fender. They will find a competitive advantage anywhere NASCAR will let them get away with it. I think the front end changes would have helped them down the road, I just wish they would have made one team the sacrificial lamb and not had both cars with the modifications. Kudos for trying Chad and Steve, but you now know another area you can't mess with.
2007-06-23 18:14:29 · answer #8 · answered by Tregosteevo 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No no Hendricks team did not cheat they already said that the "drawing"in the rules was a grey area.
Should of been loaded upi n their transporters and sent back to Charlotte.
2007-06-23 23:23:42 · answer #9 · answered by blakree 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If the rules are Black and White they must follow them but if they are grey they can play around with them. NASCAR told the teams not to mess with the COT.
2007-06-23 18:06:19 · answer #10 · answered by Mr.X 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋