Knaus Out Through Atlanta, Labonte Loses Points
Written by John Davison · February 21, 2006
NASCAR’s uneven apparent rules enforcement struck again Tuesday when Chad Knaus, crew chief on the No. 48 Chevy driven by Jimmie Johnson to a Daytona 500 win was suspended through the next three races on the calendar, fined $25,000 and put on probation through the end of the year. Johnson received no penalties in the incident. In contrast to the penalty not handed Johnson, Terry Labonte lost 25 driver points for an infraction uncovered and corrected before qualifying even occurred.
Chad Knaus, crew chief on Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet, spent the Daytona 500 last Sunday at home, watching the race on television. He found out Tuesday afternoon that he will cool his heels at home for the next three races before being allowed back on the pit box at Bristol.
Johnson’s car was found illegal following time trials for the Daytona 500 when the rear axle jacking bolt tubes were found to have been modified so that they would bow out the rear window of the car, deflecting air over the rear spoiler instead of allowing it to flow along the body to the spoiler. This reduced drag and potentially increased the car’s top speed.
There has been some unconfirmed speculation that the car was deliberately presented to inspection prior to qualifying too low to pass the ground clearance test. This test normally comes after the body templates have been used to confirm that the car meets NASCAR specifications. In cranking the axle jacking bolts to raise the car, the tubes between the wrench and the bolts also moved, raising the rear window’s plastic a reported three-quarters of an inch. Part of the severity of the penalty results from the apparent premeditation and manipulation of the inspection procedure by Knaus.
NASCAR disallowed Johnson’s qualifying times, relegating him to the back of the field in his qualifying race and finished fourth in the first of the Gatorade Duels, behind Elliott Sadler, Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He was allowed to race his original car after the offending parts were removed and replaced with legal pieces. Apparently, because he raced a car in legal configuration, Johnson was not penalized with a fine of loss of NEXTEL Cup points. Knaus was fined $25,000 and will serve a probation until December 31.
In a parallel announcement, Terry Labonte’s crew chief Philippe Lopez was fined $25,000 for an illegal carburetor discovered prior to time trials. Unlike Johnson, Labonte lost 25 points and team owner William Saunder lost 25 owner points. This in spite of the obvious comparison that both cars actually raced in legal configurations.
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6 Responses to “Knaus Out Through Atlanta, Labonte Loses Points”
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It really puzzles me why Johnson would not get docked points. It is obvious that Nascar is not happy with Chad and that he was caught red handed because that is a big fine with an even bigger suspension. Check out just last year, Last March, he was accused of cheating following Johnson’s win in Las Vegas when his car failed post-race inspection. After a win in September at Dover, Del., Johnson’s car again failed inspection. You better watch your back Chad or you are going to end up back at the Rockford Speedway.
JJ was penalized. Look where he had to start. I am not a big supporter of the #48. But enough is enough already. J.D. Gibbs has taken full responsibitlity for the the illegal carb and is joining in the appeal to have the penalties repealed from Labonte. The crew chief should have caught the illegal carb. He was fined as much money as Chad! Wow….what a wild ride it has been this week.
I was not clear on why Labonte lost points and Johnson did not.
To say
“JJ was penalized. Look where he had to start. I am not a big supporter of the #48. But enough is enough already.”
is crap - because last year NASCAR rejected that same argument when they docked Harvick points.
I have said this in other forums and will repeat it here. If NASCAR is really treating this idea of “illegal points are docked, illegal changes are not”, well 1) I think they are completely stupid but 2) I can live with it IF THEY DO IT THIS WAY FROM NOW ON.
But so far they are inconsistent with themselves. Don’t they get it? That is why everyone was mad - their inconsistent approach!
I think everyone is mad because Jr, is still sucking and Hendricks is still dominating. Enough said.
It’s not “Hendricks” it “Hendrick.” There is no “s” on the end of “Rick Hendrick”…and hence none on the end of the name of any of his race teams or anything else that bears said last name. Seriously…check it out for yourself…
http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com