DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- First, four cars were busted for illegal modifications. Then, another was thrown out because of a mysterious substance discovered in the manifold. What would this Speedweeks be without a height violation?
That's exactly what cropped up Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway, when the No. 24 car Jeff Gordon used to win the second twin 150-mile qualifying race was found to be an inch too low, according to NASCAR officials. Gordon retains credit for the victory, but as a penalty will start Sunday's Daytona 500 in 42nd position.
Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president for competition, said bolts had been misaligned on the rear shocks installed prior to Thursday's race. Once the race started, the load on those misaligned bolts caused the car's quarterpanels, but not the roof, to be lower than the minimum allowed height.
"Honestly, I think it's something a mechanic made a mistake on as he bolted the shocks on during the installation process," Pemberton said.
That's of little solace to Gordon, who wasn't happy to hear the news.
"I hate to hear that. That sucks," he said before the violation was announced. "I'm curious to know how low it is. If we're talking a millimeter, that's one thing. If we're talking a half an inch, that's different."
Pemberton added that NASCAR was convinced the infraction was unintentional, and that no fines or point deductions would be warranted. Gordon, a three-time winner of the Daytona 500, will vacate his fourth-place starting position and instead roll off 42nd. Dale Jarrett, who got into the race on a past champion's provisional, will start last.
"I would say that this would be the end of the penalties on the 24 car," Pemberton said.
That's a welcome change for NASCAR, which has doled out a season's worth of penalties over the last five days.
The crew chiefs of Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Scott Riggs and Elliott Sadler were all banished from Daytona after illegal modifications were discovered on each of their cars during qualifying Sunday.
The same day, Michael Waltrip's crew chief was suspended indefinitely for an illegal substance found in the manifold of the No. 55 car. All four drivers also suffered point deductions, and all four crew chiefs were hit with fines.
In that regard, an unintentional violation is viewed as progress.
"It's a step in the right direction, yes," Pemberton said.