[jks812]

SONOMA, Calif. -- Nextel Cup Series points leader Jeff Gordon and defending series champion Jimmie Johnson, both of the Hendrick Motorsports stable, have failed inspection at Infineon Raceway.
The cars of neither Gordon, the defending race champion, nor Johnson will be allowed to practice or qualify Friday.
NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said both cars "failed the initial inspection ... as a result of body modifications found to be outside NASCAR tolerances. The front fender [of both cars] was modified outside of NASCAR regulations. They did not meet the C2 template inspection."
According to Poston, Hendrick Motorsports' No. 5 and No. 25 cars, for Kyle Busch and Casey Mears, passed inspections.
Poston added, "both teams have an opportunity to repair and resubmit their cars" for inspection up to the start of practice Saturday. "Assuming they pass inspection, they can practice [Saturday] and start at the rear of the field [Sunday]," he said.
"It's important to know this is a Car of Tomorrow penalty," Poston said of the short-term severity of the sanction. "The inspection process and NASCAR's response to Car of Tomorrow violations are going to be more severe.
"We're going to keep this car in check. It's important to know all cars in the field are starting out equal and have the ability to win the race."
Poston said both teams' crew chiefs, Steve Letarte on the No. 24 and Chad Knaus on the No. 48, would be allowed to supervise the repairs, and at this point, NASCAR had no plans to immediately confiscate the cars.
The decision on further penalties would be made next week, Poston said.

[jks812]

I've been watching and I think they finally sent Jimmie's car on, but Jeff's still hadn't passed. Guess we'll see next week how serious Nascar is about messing with the COT and the penalities for doing so.

[Ellison]

is this a definite penalty towards standings points as well?

[Nevadastars]

I guess we'll see how good Gordo really is on a road course since he'll be starting in the back. I just heard the furthest starting position anyone as won from at Infineon (then Sears Point) was Davey Allison who started 13th.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Ellison

is this a definite penalty towards standings points as well?

Well, if you go according to what Nascar has said, it should be the same as the rest, $100,000 and 100 point deduction. They said again today, that any COT infraction would be a $100,000 fine and 100 point deduction. And if they do the same for them as Mikey and Jr, crew chiefs should be suspended too.

[Geaux20Geaux]

I think the floor has to be atleast a 100 points, a suspended crew chief for 4 races and a $100k fine. Anything less and NASCAR shows it's Hendrick bias.

Even allowing them to race is questionable.

[King43STP]

Originally Posted by Geaux20Geaux

I think the floor has to be atleast a 100 points, a suspended crew chief for 4 races and a $100k fine. Anything less and NASCAR shows it's Hendrick bias.

Even allowing them to race is questionable.

Correction, It's 6 races. Except for Chad. We will have to wait and see if NASCAR remembers the last two years that they put Chad on probation till the end of the year. If Chad gets only 6 races it will show a Hendrick bias.

[wingkey1]

What are the C2 template descriptions, definitions, and tolerances?

Did both fail for the exact same infraction?

Don't know if accurate, but someone here indicated Johnson's passed/moved on? Does this mean 48 will practice and qualify?

See many suggestions for penalties so I'd be inclined to guess there are clear/understandable answers to the above(?).

Would appreciate and welcome any help towards understanding facts.

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

What are the C2 template descriptions, definitions, and tolerances?

Did both fail for the exact same infraction?

Don't know if accurate, but someone here indicated Johnson's passed/moved on? Does this mean 48 will practice and qualify?

See many suggestions for penalties so I'd be inclined to guess there are clear/understandable answers to the above(?).

Would appreciate and welcome any help towards understanding facts.

Both failed the same exact infraction, which was modifications to the front fenders. Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson passed inspection this afternoon, but I don't think NASCAR will let them qualify either way.

[Bob Tanner]

Golly gee whiz, Batman! Once more Knause proves himself to be one of NASCAR most prolific and frequently caught cheaters.

Two years ago, I believe it was funny shock absorbers. He was fined and put on probation.
Last year I forget what it was but he was fined, told to sit out six races (really BIG penalty there, right?) put on super secret probation and released to go and sin no more.
Now he's kicked Brian's and John Darby's sacred cow; he screwed with the infamous COT!!

Unfortunately this time Latarte got caught up in the scandal too.

What is a sanctioning body to do? Let's see, already this season we've seen $100K fines, 100 driver and owner points removed and periods of time watching the race on TV. Methinks it's time for NA$CAR to up the ante a bit.

I've never bought into the fairly common idea among fellow Hendrick dislikers and the run of the mill ABH (Anybody but Hendrick) clan. But I honestly believe that NA$CAR should (a)give the #24 #200K fine, 150 owner and driver points and suspend Latarte for ten races, and...
(b) the same penalties for the #48, except in view of Knauses' record, the same penalty they gave Mikey's crew chief and director of competition at Daytona, ban him from any connection with NASCAR and Hendrick Motor Sports until further notice.

I believe anything less than this would give the ABH folks a good argument for NASCAR having one set of rules for Hendrick and another set for the rest of the teams.

[Jeffrey4318]

I agree I think Chad should be sat down until atleast the Chase. It doesn't have to be the whole season, but he needs it worse because of his past record.

Nascar needs to come down on him harder. Atleast 100 driver points and atleast 200 owner points. I think the more you hurt Hendrick the more he might step up and put an end to Chad's games.

[Souporscotty]

I must be EXTREEMLY stupid, but somebody's gonna have to explain this to me; You got the season by the A**, so let's cheat on one of these P***ant road courses; to prove what???????

[Quality88]

Knaus cheats again? There's a shocker.... what will be the real shocker is if NA$CAR does the right thing.... I know the article on NASCAR.com caid they were'nt going to get away with messing with a grey area again, but with NA$CARS past they would probably let them. Oh.... One question..... Where's all the Hendrick fans now?

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Souporscotty

I must be EXTREEMLY stupid, but somebody's gonna have to explain this to me; You got the season by the A**, so let's cheat on one of these P***ant road courses; to prove what???????

Because they are Hendrick and they think they can get away with anything. (much like DUKE for many years until the last two or three).

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Knaus cheats again? There's a shocker.... what will be the real shocker is if NA$CAR does the right thing.... I know the article on NASCAR.com caid they were'nt going to get away with messing with a grey area again, but with NA$CARS past they would probably let them. Oh.... One question..... Where's all the Hendrick fans now?

Coming up with good excuses or would that be reasons ??