A little consistency, please

tkj24

tkj24

Team Owner
Joined
Oct 5, 2001
Messages
7,877
Points
398
Location
Tennessee
by Kenny Bruce

SONOMA, Calif. – For all of those who think that NASCAR should levy a stiffer penalty against Chad Knaus because of the Hendrick Motorsports crew chief’s past “indiscretions,” get over it.

It’s a safe bet that Knaus and fellow Hendrick crew chief Steve Letarte will be fined and suspended for rules violations discovered during the initial inspection process June 22 at Infineon Raceway. But because both cars failed for the same reason, the penalties that result should be the same as well.

To treat them as anything other than that would be wrong. Knaus may have been found guilty of trying to skirt NASCAR’s rulebook on previous occasions, but the debt for those has already been paid in full.

It’s interesting to note that there are some folks who appear to believe that a loss of 100 points for the infractions isn’t going to affect either of the two crew chiefs’ drivers – Jeff Gordon (Letarte) and Jimmie Johnson (Knaus). Before today’s race at Infineon, a 100-point loss by Gordon wouldn’t be enough to knock the four-time series champion off the top spot. And a similar loss would only drop Johnson from third to fourth in the point standings.

That’s not the point. NASCAR officials can’t decide the severity of a penalty based on where that driver is in the point standings. If Gordon or Johnson were outside the top 10 in points, such a loss would obviously appear to carry more weight. A 100-point deduction is still big, regardless of whether a driver is first, or 41st, in the point standings.

That being said, if officials want competitors and fans to continue to buy into the belief that the sanctioning body will react harshly for violations regarding the car of tomorrow – something that seemed to be the case when Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. were penalized earlier this year – then the penalties for Knaus and Letarte should be at least as harsh, if not more so.

Yes, keeping the two teams off the track on Friday will be factored into any forthcoming penalty, but anything less than the loss of 100 points and a six-week vacation for the two would be a step in the wrong direction, and only fuel speculation among fans that officials let “who” was involved affect the severity of the penalty levied.

NASCAR officials can say such factors don’t affect its decision-making process, but until it proves otherwise on a consistent basis, fans will always be left to wonder.
 
tkj24 said:
by Kenny Bruce

SONOMA, Calif. – For all of those who think that NASCAR should levy a stiffer penalty against Chad Knaus because of the Hendrick Motorsports crew chief’s past “indiscretions,” get over it.

It’s a safe bet that Knaus and fellow Hendrick crew chief Steve Letarte will be fined and suspended for rules violations discovered during the initial inspection process June 22 at Infineon Raceway. But because both cars failed for the same reason, the penalties that result should be the same as well.

To treat them as anything other than that would be wrong. Knaus may have been found guilty of trying to skirt NASCAR’s rulebook on previous occasions, but the debt for those has already been paid in full.

It’s interesting to note that there are some folks who appear to believe that a loss of 100 points for the infractions isn’t going to affect either of the two crew chiefs’ drivers – Jeff Gordon (Letarte) and Jimmie Johnson (Knaus). Before today’s race at Infineon, a 100-point loss by Gordon wouldn’t be enough to knock the four-time series champion off the top spot. And a similar loss would only drop Johnson from third to fourth in the point standings.

That’s not the point. NASCAR officials can’t decide the severity of a penalty based on where that driver is in the point standings. If Gordon or Johnson were outside the top 10 in points, such a loss would obviously appear to carry more weight. A 100-point deduction is still big, regardless of whether a driver is first, or 41st, in the point standings.

That being said, if officials want competitors and fans to continue to buy into the belief that the sanctioning body will react harshly for violations regarding the car of tomorrow – something that seemed to be the case when Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. were penalized earlier this year – then the penalties for Knaus and Letarte should be at least as harsh, if not more so.

Yes, keeping the two teams off the track on Friday will be factored into any forthcoming penalty, but anything less than the loss of 100 points and a six-week vacation for the two would be a step in the wrong direction, and only fuel speculation among fans that officials let “who” was involved affect the severity of the penalty levied.

NASCAR officials can say such factors don’t affect its decision-making process, but until it proves otherwise on a consistent basis, fans will always be left to wonder.
Click to expand...

At a minimum these teams should have the same penelty as Earnhardt's team, but i have a feeling its going to be worse.

There was intention here, 2 cars from the same shop illegal in the same areas? It wasnt a mistake and you cant skirt around it that it was a mistake. It was cheating through and through. The 8 team might or might not have made a mistake when they were caught, there's no way to prove that.

Chad needs to be sent packing for quite awhile, he doesnt seem to have a problem with putting his teams integrity on the line. I think he needs to sit for at least 10 races.
 
Good read and I agree with the author on most of it.

I do not agree with this paragraph:
"To treat them as anything other than that would be wrong. Knaus may have been found guilty of trying to skirt NASCAR’s rulebook on previous occasions, but the debt for those has already been paid in full.".

I believe that the offenders track should weigh heavy when considering penalties. If a guy continuously does it and the penalties do not apparently concern them, or at least not enough to curb the temptation to do it, then they should keep going until they do get the offenders attention.
jmo
 
The problem in hitting Chad harder than Steve is all the anti-Gordon's would cry favoritism.
 
Well it wasn't like they used an unapporved part. They worked in an area that was in the gray area. Possibly Nascar's intent wasn't clear before. It wasn't written down that you couldn't work in those areas. Not being allowed to qualify is a harsh enough penalty. IMO, no points, no fines, no suspensions...
 
barelypure said:
Well it wasn't like they used an unapporved part. They worked in an area that was in the gray area. Possibly Nascar's intent wasn't clear before. It wasn't written down that you couldn't work in those areas. Not being allowed to qualify is a harsh enough penalty. IMO, no points, no fines, no suspensions...
Click to expand...

Really? Even though Nascar told the teams that they were not to mess with the COT?
 
SONOMA, Calif. (AP) - NASCAR is determined to take any guesswork out of its new Car of Tomorrow.

With a new system of templates and sensors to measure the parameters of the taller, wider and reputedly safer car, NASCAR chairman Brian France said the sanctioning organization wants to leave no doubt that it will come down hard on infractions.

"We have to lay down the law," France said Sunday at Infineon Raceway, where the Nextel Cup cars raced in the Toyota/Save Mart 350.

That doesn't bode well for the teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, who were parked for Friday's practice and qualifying after NASCAR inspectors found front fenders on their COT Chevrolets had been illegally modified.

The two Hendrick Motorsports drivers were allowed to practice Saturday and race Sunday, starting from the rear of the field, but it is expected that NASCAR will follow up in the next few days with more severe penalties, possibly including the loss of drivers and owner points, six-figure fines and suspensions for the crew chiefs.

Asked if NASCAR is taking all the creativity away from the teams, France said, "There will always be room for imagination and ingenuity in the sport. But we don't want this thing to revolve around technology. It's important to keep it in the hands of the drivers."
 
This Bud's for you Brian France!!!
10_6_10.gif
 
barelypure said:
Well it wasn't like they used an unapporved part. They worked in an area that was in the gray area. Possibly Nascar's intent wasn't clear before. It wasn't written down that you couldn't work in those areas. Not being allowed to qualify is a harsh enough penalty. IMO, no points, no fines, no suspensions...
Click to expand...

Someone has some blind eyes...
 
Crew chief suspensions, hefty fines merely a slap on the wrist

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Terry Blount
ESPN.com


SONOMA, Calif. -- Why did they do it?
The cars for Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson had illegal body modifications Friday morning. Neither team was allowed to practice or qualify.

They will start in the back Sunday for the Toyota/Save Mart 300 in cars capable of winning on the Infineon Raceway road course.

Gordon has a 264-point lead in the Nextel Cup standings. Johnson is third, 73 points behind Gordon. Both men are safely inside the 12-driver cutoff for the Chase playoff, which starts in September.

Until NASCAR is willing to park a car for a race or change a team's playoff status, the ridiculous game of 'catch me if you can' will continue.

So why gamble on doing something outside the rules?

Because they can. In the big picture, nothing bad will happen. Yes, a substantial penalty is coming, but the pain is minimal.

Until NASCAR is willing to park a car for a race or change a team's playoff status, the ridiculous game of "catch me if you can" will continue.

NASCAR officials puff out their chests, shake their fingers and say they aren't playing around on this stuff. They say they won't tolerate rule violators.

But every time you think the teams are starting to get the message, they fool us again and drift back into the cheating mode.

OK, "cheating" is the wrong term. It's pushing the envelope and trying to gain an advantage.

Whatever. The point is these guys keep doing it.

The penalties from NASCAR keep escalating; the teams keep breaking the rules.

A big penalty is certain for both teams, probably coming Tuesday. Each driver will receive at least a 100-point deduction, and both crew chiefs -- Steve Letarte for Gordon and Chad Knaus for Johnson -- will receive at least a $100,000 fine and probably six-week suspensions.

We know this because that's the penalty the No. 8 Chevy for Dale Earnhardt Jr. received as the first team caught doing a no-no on the Car of Tomorrow.

Earnhardt's car had illegal bolts on the rear wing in an initial inspection at Darlington last month.

NASCAR officials have said repeatedly that COT violations will bring a major punishment. They also have said the penalties will continue to escalate.

None of that rhetoric matters. Unless NASCAR is willing to make a team sit out an event, these guys will continue to see just how much they can get away with.

It's like a toddler when his mother says, "Don't you touch that glass." It becomes a dare. The kid does it until the punishment exceeds the crime. Sometimes, it takes a timeout.

Let's assume Gordon and Johnson both receive a 100-point penalty. It sounds much worse than it is.

A 100-point pop is less than half of Gordon's lead in the standings. The same penalty for Johnson would move him from third to fourth.

Whoopee. And even that doesn't really matter.

The Chase drivers are seeded by victories. Gordon and Johnson are tied for the most wins this season with four each. At this point, both drivers would start the Chase on top even if they fell a few spots in the points standings.

Both drivers also will have to race most of the summer without their crew chiefs. Again, not a problem. Hendrick Motorsports has the deepest talent pool in NASCAR, with more than 500 employees.

The crew chiefs won't be on the pit box, but they will be where they are needed the most -- at the shop every day helping prepare cars for each race.
In the meantime, both teams will place another talented team member in the crew-chief chair on race day.

Johnson lost Knaus for the first four races last season. He won two of them and finished second and sixth in the other two. Johnson also won his first Cup title.

Then there's the $100,000 fine. For most of us, that would be life-changing. For Cup teams, it's like throwing a coin in the wishing well.

NASCAR officials should make teams sit out a race, but they don't. Fans of the drivers involved would throw a fit, not to mention the sponsors.

In this case, even skipping the event isn't enough. Losing the points for one race wouldn't have much impact on either team.

You have to make the punishment meaningful. For example, tell Gordon and Johnson they have to start the Chase at the bottom of the playoff field, assuming they both still finish the regular season in the top 12.

Now that's a serious penalty. If the crews for the No. 24 and No. 48 knew going in that that was a possibility, you think they would have flared out those fenders and hoped nobody noticed?

Not a chance. When the risk becomes greater than the reward, the strategy changes. Fear takes over.

So far, even with all of NASCAR's tough talk, no one is scared straight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom