Is it fair for Carl Edwards to get penalized for failing post-race inspection, when...?

Question

that actually puts your car at a disadvantage? You want it to be higher, not lower. So obviously that wasn't intentional.



DOVER, Del. -- Carl Edwards' race-winning No. 99 Ford failed post-race inspection following Sunday's Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover International Raceway, which could lead to penalties assessed against the Roush Fenway Racing operation later this week.

"The car was found to be too low in the right-rear," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said (watch video). "The height exceeded NASCAR's tolerances.

"This is not considered a Car of Tomorrow-type penalty. There's no evidence of manipulation of the integrity of the structure of the car. It's a heights-inspection infraction."

Poston said the car will be taken to its North Carolina research and development center for further inspection, while NASCAR officials will debate what penalties will be assessed...

Edwards hopes some post-race bumping from teammate Greg Biffle is the cause for the infraction.

"The worse case would be 25 points, the right-rear being low -- any engineer or crew chief in the garage will tell you that's the last thing you want," Edwards said. "You want the right-rear to be high.

"The only thing I can think of is at the end of the race, Greg came up and gave me a couple of love taps to say 'good job, good race' and hopefully they find that that bent the tail of the car down a little bit. There are some braces bent under the decklid so hopefully that's what it is."

A similar infraction occurred at New Hampshire in July, when the cars of Johnny Sauter and Kyle Busch failed to meet minimum height requirements. NASCAR took away 25 points apiece and fined each crew chief $25,00

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T AGREE THAT IT IS A DISADVANTAGE, YOU WANT THE REAR OF YOUR CAR TO BE HIGH, NOT LOW! CARL SAID THAT HIMSELF. AND IT HAPPENED AFTER THE RACE (FROM BIFFLE), NOT DURING THE RACE.

Answer 1

They have not made a determination as to whether they are going to penalize him or not. I agree with you, the fact that the right rear was lower did not put him at an advantage. We will just have to wiat and see.

Answer 2

Yes it is fair. If they didn't penalize them, then the crew chiefs
would figure out ways to make the cars pass inspection
before the race and have things change during the race
to put the cars out of tolerance for an advantage knowing
that they didn't have to pass a post race inspection

Answer 3

He wants to play with the kids and the big boys and there for rules are rules.
If he deserves the penalty for goodness sake they should give it to him with both barrels.
This is your NASCAR NATION Chase no cheating. Period. He must of had an unfair advantage and therefor shame shame shame.
I feel sorry for every NASCAR driver and star that has to be under there ruling over anything. NASCAR can not decide what they want with this car of tomorrow. Any other rule that has been broken has been 100,000 and loss of points and loose you crew chief. I say do it to him too.

Answer 4

He should take his 25 point penalty just like the others (Johnny Sauter and Kyle Busch) If one gets penalized, so should the rest.

Answer 5

How would being lower to the ground be a disadvantage?? The center of gravity would be lower, helping the car turn better. The spoiler is lower, less drag = more speed. Intentional or not, he should be penalized.

Answer 6

considering the fact that NASCAR suggested it wasn't a planned attempt to interrupt the policies and the reality that it has no touching on velocity, i think of Osborne gets a $25,000 high-quality and Carl would be docked 25 factors. that is consistent with previous outcomes. outcomes are greater costly interior the Chase than they have been in the previous.

Answer 7

Jimmie Johnson lost his crew chief for several races after he failed post-qual inspection. (Rear window was "off" a few millimeters.)

Some say that it made a difference - some say not. Either way, the #48 did not have it's crew chief for Daytona. Officials said the error was intentional.

Answer 8

Sorry but getting that wing out of the air will make it go faster on a short track where a ton of down force is not needed. And yes he should get a penalty just like everyone else .

Answer 9

We should know by the end of the day tomorrow, Nascar normally decides these things on tuesday..

Answer 10

I agree with you, unfortunately nascar is nothing if unpredictable...lets just hope the pull their heads out o their butts and do the right thing, let Carl have the victory and no penalties!!!