Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Penalties and Fines handed out after Daytona 500

[wrv01]

Knaus suspended through Atlanta
No. 48 loses no points, Knaus fined $25,000; No. 96 penalized
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
February 22, 2006
10:10 AM EST (15:10 GMT)




CHARLOTTE -- Chad Knaus was shocked when Jimmie Johnson's car didn't pass NASCAR's post-qualifying inspection for Sunday's Daytona 500, resulting in what amounts to a four-race suspension for the veteran crew chief.

"Yeah I was shocked,'' Knaus said after NASCAR announced on Tuesday he would miss the next three races on top of being ejected from the 500 won by Johnson.


"I didn't know what was going on. I came back [from getting ready for the rained out Budweiser Shootout] and our car, I thought was going through inspection, was covered up. Yeah, I was shocked.''

Knaus, who also was fined $25,000, would not discuss the specifics of what NASCAR referred to as a device that that pushed the rear window out more than three-quarters of an inch to create an aerodynamic advantage.

Although he has apologized to Johnson, sponsors and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, Knaus showed little remorse and never admitted during a lengthy conference call that what he did was a blatant attempt to break the rules as NASCAR said.

"There's a lot of things out there that can be called intentional,'' said Knaus in his first interview since being ejected from Daytona. "The fact of the matter is, when NASCAR went back, it didn't fit the templates. How that happens is pretty irrelevant.''

Knaus' response didn't seem to surprise Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition.

"Maybe that's why he's in trouble,'' Pemberton said.

Knaus was relieved that Johnson was not penalized championship points as Terry Labonte, driving for Hall of Fame Racing, was for having an unapproved carburetor during qualifying.

Labonte was docked 25 points and team owner William Saunders was penalized 25 owner points. Crew chief Philippe Lopez was fined $25,000.

Pemberton said Knaus' penalty was in line with past violations. He cited the four-race suspension given to Todd Berrier, the crew chief for Kevin Harvick, for rigging a fuel cell to appear full during qualifying last year at Las Vegas.


Terry Labonte

ALSO
The following is a statement from Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs regarding the $25,000 fine and the deduction of 25 owner and 25 driver points NASCAR levied against the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Team for having an unapproved carburetor during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona.

Hall of Fame Racing has an engine lease program with Joe Gibbs Racing, and the unapproved carburetor came with the engine supplied to Hall of Fame Racing.

"Joe Gibbs Racing provides all of the engines and carburetors for Hall of Fame Racing," said Gibbs. "We are responsible for any issues having arisen from the unapproved carburetor that was taken by NASCAR in Daytona. It is never our intention to put any unapproved parts on any of our race cars or those of our partners. We will join Hall of Fame Racing in appealing the severity of the penalty."


Pemberton said the difference between Knaus' penalty and the Hall of Fame penalty was Labonte's car had an illegal part.

"When we lay our hands on that, that's when we generally go with points,'' he said. "In the case of [Johnson's car] it was all legal parts and pieces, the window and the jack bolt.

"It wasn't anything illegal about the pieces. They just were orchestrated in a way to alter the back of the car.''

Pemberton believes the loss of a crew chief for a month is more severe than a points penalty. On that, Knaus agreed.

"I would honestly say that losing the head coach of the team or crew chief or a leader to an organization is more detrimental than any points you could possibly take away,'' he said. "Obviously, we won the race and everything went picture perfect.

"In the future, that could be a very detrimental thing, me not being there. We're going to do the best we can and see what happens.''

Hendrick Motorsports does not plan to appeal the suspension, which will include this week's race at California, Las Vegas and Atlanta, all three tracks which require more adjustments than Daytona. Lead engineer Darian Grubb, who replaced Knaus at Daytona, will continue in that role.

Knaus' biggest regret is the scrutiny Johnson has been under since winning the "Great American Race'' for the first time. Ryan Newman noted after finishing third that three of Johnson's last four wins were under scrutiny.

David Letterman questioned Johnson about what has been called "cheating'' on his show Monday night, and it came up again Tuesday morning when Johnson appeared on the Regis and Kelly show in New York City.

It also was the main topic on Johnson's Tuesday afternoon national conference call before the penalty was announced.

"There's nothing I can do about it,'' Johnson said.

Knaus said Johnson knew nothing about the car's setup and that he shouldn't have to defend himself for winning the biggest race of his life.

"When all of this stuff started going down I said, 'Look, dude. There's going to be a little grief for this,' '' Knaus said. "There should be absolutely no grief for what happened in the Daytona 500.

"They won the Daytona 500, no questions asked. And after that they went through technical inspection again. I don't want to take anything from those guys. They did an incredible job.''

Without saying a four-race suspension was unfair, Johnson said Knaus already has missed the biggest race of the season.

"From my standpoint, we've been through a lot already for a qualifying infraction,'' he said.




HISTORIC PENALTY
Chad Knaus' suspension from on-track activities is the longest stretch for a crew chief in NASCAR history, matched only by Todd Berrier's four-race suspension in 2005.


But Johnson admitted what happened at Daytona was educational.

"I can tell you after this and what this experience has taught us, we'll be walking on the right side of the line for sure,'' the points leader said.

Knaus, often called the most innovative crew chief in the garage, also admitted he'll have to take a different tact.

"I've got to make adjustments to the way I prepare race cars,'' he said. "Everybody has got to make adjustments to how NASCAR makes penalties.''

Knaus added that the incident wouldn't be getting so much attention if "we ran 25th every week.''

Johnson has finished second in points in two of the past three seasons and was fifth last season. Knaus said the team goal while he is out will remain the same as it was at the start of the season, to get solid in the top 10 in points to be in position to make the 10-race Chase.

He said the "funny'' thing about the suspension is the organization spent the entire offseason trying to prepare Johnson's car to run well in the 500, not qualify well.

Knaus said not being there in person to enjoy the moment was "extremely painful,'' comparing it to missing a child's first day of kindergarten.

"I was happy when they pulled into Victory Lane,'' he said. "But honestly, I had a little tear in my eye.''

Knaus watched the race from a small room at his house and plans to do the same for the next four weeks. During the week, he will be allowed to work on the cars before they are sent to the track and communicate with team members.

"It was unfortunate,'' Knaus said of the incident. "We pushed something a little bit too far. We got caught with something NASCAR didn't like. We have to accept that and move forward and try to win the championship.''

[meuandthelot]

Thanks for posting
Yep, I was just going to try and decipher the fines v/s point deduction v/s suspension.
Some teams make out Ok imho getting fined...Points hurt!

[wrv01]

yes points will hurt in the end...money is easier to handle.

But should a team get penalized for interperting the rules differently? some call it cheating some call it out side of the box

[randallcards]

nice read