Knaus Suspended 6 Races + $100,000 Fine !

[HOF#13]

From NASCAR...

"DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to the No. 48 team in the Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rules infractions found on Feb. 17 during opening day inspection for the Daytona 500.

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).

As a result, crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec have been suspended from the next six Sprint Cup Series championship events, suspended from NASCAR until April 18 and placed on NASCAR probation until May 9. Additionally, Knaus has been fined $100,000.

Driver Jimmie Johnson and car owner Jeff Gordon have been penalized with the loss of 25 driver and 25 owner points, respectively."

[Juneau4]

That must mean that Johnson and Gordon must be in the hole points wise?

[HOF#13]

That must mean that Johnson and Gordon must be in the hole points wise?

Yea...That's a big points penalty for Jimmy. He had 2 points after the 500, but now has -23 points. He went from 45 points behind Kenseth to 70 points behind. With the way the points are distributed now, that is pretty significant.

For Gordon, it is just owner's points as he is part owner of the 48 car.

[Juneau4]

Could be tough to be in the top 35 in owner points after 5 races. They may have to qualify to race or use past champion provisional.

[LMITOUT]

What are the odds of Knaus finishing the season with the #48 team?

[harvey lee]

110%

[trolloni]

Not enough shoulda banned him for life ,this has been going on for years with this crook !

[gregg52]

geez i dunno i think thats a little strong 6 weeks

turns out would not have helped the 48 any way ..lol

oh i think knaus will stay to much chemistry there

thats to hard to find i think if he would leave i believe jimmie might be done with championships it gettin very competitive

i was thinkin the 5 would do better they didnt look real good at daytona

but as they say the real season starts now

i would watch that 17 i think they are onto to something there

[HOF#13]

The working in the gray area and "stretching" the rules have always been a part of NASCAR...I think the only real way to get rid of it would be to hold the driver soley responsible for the actions of his team. Chad Knaus cheats, and instead of him getting suspended, Jimmy get's parked for a race or two.

Could you imagine what would happen if the top series drivers were suspended for a race or two becuase their team tried to cheat? Oh boy...

For the record, I am not in favor of this, but just pointing out a way that would really cut down on the cheating.

[hoytshooter]

Once a cheater always a cheater. They deserve everything they get. I am just waiting for the appeal process to work through when nascar gives back the 25 points to JJ because he might not make the chase. I know what i typed sounds like a conspiracy theory.

[gregg52]

maybe they just dont want the 48 to win another championship this quick....lol

it seems alittle harsh to me

funny thing is it seems he tries it at daytona all the time

he should know that race really doesnt count that much you can have a good season without running good there why cheat when the odds are real high you are going to crash any way get a top 10 and call it a day

[hoytshooter]

He has be caught multiple times. Nascar had to do alittle more than a slap of the wrist.

[BlueLundFishrman]

We all know he will win races this year...so really the points behind Kenseth are the issue...it's how far from 20th place he is...that's 46 points...still a sizeable disadvantage, but he's got 25 races to make up that difference...unfortunately i'd say his odds are still very good to make the chase

[Sifty]

From the AP

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP)

The crew chief for five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson says the car that failed inspection at Daytona International Speedway had previously passed with the same configuration more than once.

Chad Knaus said Friday he was surprised NASCAR flagged the No. 48 Chevrolet on Feb. 17 for having illegally modified sheet metal between the roof and side windows. Knaus said NASCAR failed the car based on a visual inspection and no measurements were taken.

Knaus was fined $100,000 and suspended six races by NASCAR on Wednesday. Car chief Ron Malec also was barred for six races. Johnson was docked 25 points, putting him last in the Sprint Cup Series standings.

Hendrick Motorsports appealed the decision, and Knaus and Malec will be allowed to attend races during the process.

I had heard the car had passed the inspection.

Things should get intresting.

Sifty

[PierBridge]

No surprise here!

"Hendrick Motorsports won ther appeal today.The 25 owner and driver points were rescinded and Johnson moves from 17th to 11th in driver standings.The 6 race suspension to crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malac were also rescinded.The $100,000 fine to Knaus stands.This car failed inspection at Daytona before it had run any laps,Nascar inspertors did not like the look of the C Posts and made them cut them out without taking any measurements or putting it under the claw.Hendrick had documentation as well as photos to show that this car had been in all 4 plate races last year and had been through inspection at all those races and nothing had been changed on the car."

[harvey lee]

Sounds like they got it right.

The car never hit the track for even 1 lap.

The TV announcers also stated last week the fine was excessive.

[Sifty]

From Fox

NASCAR's chief appellate officer overturned on Tuesday the bulk of the penalties levied against five-time championship winning crew chief Chad Knaus, who still must pay a $100,000 fine because Jimmie Johnson's car failed the opening day inspection of the Daytona 500.

Chief appellate officer John Middlebrook overturned the six-race suspensions NASCAR handed down to Knaus and car chief Ron Malec, and ruled both instead will be on probation through May 9.

Middlebrook also reinstated the 25 points that Johnson had been docked. The decision moves Johnson to 11th in the Sprint Cup standings heading into Sunday's race at California.

''It's been a tough 30 days,'' Knaus said. ''It's not about vindication. It's time to move on.''

Johnson, who earned his first career victory at California in 2002, was ready to get on with the season. He was told by Knaus via text message about the ruling.

''I'm glad this is over; now it's on to Cali,'' he posted on Twitter.

Knaus and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick have maintained the No. 48 Chevrolet was not illegal when it was presented for inspection Feb. 17 at Daytona. NASCAR used a visual inspection to determine the sheet metal between the roof and the side windows had been illegally modified to give Johnson an aerodynamic advantage.

The car was never sent through NASCAR's templates, and the team maintained it had not been altered since it was approved in January at NASCAR's R&D Center. Hendrick also said he had paperwork showing the car was exactly the same as it was following Johnson's win last April at Talladega.

''My argument was simply that the car is out in plain view. The car went to the tech center. It was inspected at the race track. It was inspected at the tech center on multiple occasions, and it was at the tech center as late as January. And the car had not been altered,'' Hendrick said. ''We even had one of the NASCAR officials make comments about the car being correct. We had all that documented.

''I think by going piece-by-piece, date-by-date, you could see there was no ill intent by our part. ... Our car was approved.''

Both Knaus and Hendrick seemed relieved rather than jubilant following Tuesday's ruling. They both said they were stunned a week ago when a three-member panel unanimously upheld all of NASCAR's penalties. That, not Middlebrook's ruling, was the most surprising part of the process.

Still, both maintained the car never should have been ruled illegal.

''I was pretty shocked in Daytona when this happened. We go through great, great lengths, and it's been years since we've been in trouble. Years,'' Knaus said. ''It's unfortunate that the perception is out there that we continue to bend the rules, because we truly don't. We go above and beyond to be compliant with what they want.

''And I was shocked. I was really, really shocked. And I was pretty torn up, because I felt like we did everything in our power to build the best race car we could for the Daytona 500 and take it down there without any problems.''

Middlebrook was not made available to reporters following his decision. Knaus, Hendrick nor NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp could explain why the arbitrator left intact the $100,000 fine.

''I am sure the chief appellate officer has his reasons,'' Tharp said. ''He heard both sides, and it's his prerogative to make those decisions. It's part of the process.''

Sprint Cup Series director John Darby presented NASCAR's case to Middlebrook. Unlike a week ago, when each side presented their arguments separately, Hendrick Motorsports and NASCAR were in the room together with Middlebrook.

''I think the forum today was a little bit better. It allowed us to get us in the same room with the NASCAR personnel and discuss what happened, and the appeal committee was able to hear both sides of the story at the same time,'' Knaus said. ''There's two sides to every story: There's my side, NASCAR's side and the truth always falls in the middle somewhere.

''Today we did a good job to make sure the truth was laid out there for everybody.''

Middlebrook is NASCAR's final arbitrator. He retired in 2008 after 49 years with General Motors and is paid $1 a year by NASCAR for the position he took over at the start of the 2010 season.

In three previous rulings, he had rescinded but not overturned entire penalties.

Hendrick, a longtime Chevrolet dealer and partner in NASCAR and one of six people who spoke at Middlebrook's retirement dinner, thought Tuesday's process was fair.

''I think he's very smart, and he's very detailed,'' Hendrick said. ''We were not talking to someone who doesn't understand how a car is built, and he's read the rulebook.''

Knaus has been in trouble before with NASCAR and has served three previous suspensions. He had a two-race suspension in 2005 reduced to probation on appeal.

His last suspension was six races in 2007 for an infraction found at Sonoma.

He long has argued that he's not an outright cheater, and his infractions have been cases of Knaus finding loopholes in the rulebook or exploiting gray areas. With his five championships, he's considered one of the greatest crew chiefs in NASCAR history. But he reiterated Tuesday that he's not concerned about his reputation.

''It is what it is,'' he said. ''I am not really worried about my reputation; I'm worried about winning races for Hendrick Motorsports. If people don't like the way we do it or what's happened in the past, that's sad.

''I don't like personal digs, because this is a business, this is a sport, but that's the way it is.''

Sifty

[trolloni]

What a joke!another reason why nascar is falling away!sounds like insider trading to me,remember 10 years ago when hendrick was being shook down by the feds for tax problems and all of a sudden he got sick with luekemia supposedly?he dont look to sick anymore does he?

[harvey lee]

It is funny how a racer or a team can be average for years and then when they get to the point thewy have an awesome team, then everyone hates them.

I guess that is simply the way it will always be.

They love you when they can beat you and once you start to beat them alot, then they hate you or something else.

Always been that way and always will be.

I would say what it really is, others are simply jealous of them for what they can accomplish on the track.

One knows when they are racing well as the crowd begins to boo you.