[Team Yates]

Hendrick preparing for crew chief suspensions: It looks like Chad Knaus and Steve Letarte are about to become teachers, in a hurry. Sources told me [captainthunderracing.com] late Monday, that the two Hendrick Motorsports crew chiefs and their crews will be working franticly to prepare for the possible suspensions stemming from the Infineon race. At last weekends road race in California, both teams race cars failed inspection and their drivers, #24 Jeff Gordon and #48 Jimmie Johnson, where forced to start from the back of the field. Over the next few days, the two crew chiefs will be working overtime with their crews and their new replacements [it doesn't say who they are] to prepare themselves for the possible passing of the baton this weekend in New Hampshire. Sources said Knaus is prepared to assist Letarte with preparations and the two are reviewing Knaus's notes from last year to get a strong handle on how to handle their potential impending absences from the race track. They are preparing to work the operation much the way they did last season when Knaus was suspended following a cheating infraction at the season opening Daytona 500. Johnson won the race in Knause's absence with fill in crew chief Darian Grubb sitting on the pit box in place of Knaus. Grubb parlayed that gig in to a full time gig as crew chief for the #25 of Casey Mears. When Knaus was suspended last year, they communicated via laptop and cell phone by housing Knaus in a hotel close to the track. Sources told me they will prepare much as they did last year and they will be sure to be ready for the worst. And, if they don't get suspended, they will be even better prepared for this weeks race in New Hampshire. Whoever replaces Knaus and Letarte has some big shoes to fill, and they better be prepared to be there for a while. Sources say the penalty could equal the one NASCAR handed out to Tony Eury Jr. just a few weeks ago.(captainthunderracing.com)(6-25-2007)

[oncea3fan]

they communicated via laptop and cell phone by housing Knaus in a hotel close to the track

this tells me that crew chief suspensions won't work, if the CC can simply sit out side the track and still run the show.

I think in the future it will come down to parking the car for a race or two.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

Sources said Knaus is prepared to assist Letarte with preparations

He does have experience with being prepared to be suspended. Letarte couldn't ask for a better teacher at learning how to deal with that.

[Lefty Noob]

Heh, there's always a way to work the system I guess. They should keep these guys under supervision during race time and keep them from doing stuff like this, although clearly NASCAR doesn't have a problem with it if this is being discussed openly by the crew chiefs.

[hacksaw]

Let me think did nascar say no messing around with the COT .Ok so the 8 car got 100 grand 100 points and tony jr . so why not for something the 24 and the 48 to do something they ment to do what should the fine be i say the driver the whole team no racing for one or 2 races then they might no have anymore fooling with the COT.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by hacksaw

Let me think did nascar say no messing around with the COT .Ok so the 8 car got 100 grand 100 points and tony jr . so why not for something the 24 and the 48 to do something they ment to do what should the fine be i say the driver the whole team no racing for one or 2 races then they might no have anymore fooling with the COT.

probably would teach Latarte a lesson, but Knaus??? don't think so...

[Team Yates]

Originally Posted by oncea3fan

they communicated via laptop and cell phone by housing Knaus in a hotel close to the track

this tells me that crew chief suspensions won't work, if the CC can simply sit out side the track and still run the show.

I think in the future it will come down to parking the car for a race or two.

I still think that is horse s&!! that they were allowed to communicate the entire time that he was so called "suspended"!! Was Eury Jr. allowed to communicate with the team when he was suspended, I never heard anything about that?!?

[PenelopePitStop]

Wait a minute ... I'm not seeing any points deduction, driver or owner.

Is that it?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Wait a minute ... I'm not seeing any points deduction, driver or owner.

Is that it?

From what I read there are points lost. 100 each driver points and owner point for both teams as well.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

From what I read there are points lost. 100 each driver points and owner point for both teams as well.

Yup. The announcement came out right after I made this post. I can't wait to hear what J&J have to say. However, they'll probably keep any comments low key.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Yup. The announcement came out right after I made this post. I can't wait to hear what J&J have to say. However, they'll probably keep any comments low key.

I'm sure they will have very PC statements when asked. No accusations or complaints. Willing to bet the farm on that.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I'm sure they will have very PC statements when asked. No accusations or complaints. Willing to bet the farm on that.

If I had a farm, I also would bet it! Look what happend to Stewart!

[Mike24]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

I still think that is horse s&!! that they were allowed to communicate the entire time that he was so called "suspended"!! Was Eury Jr. allowed to communicate with the team when he was suspended, I never heard anything about that?!?

Yes, they made a mention when Eury Jr was suspended that he was able to communicate with them outside the track.

[jks812]

I imagine they all do it when the crew chief is suspended. Thats why I like this guy's idea.:




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




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.

[Racer Duck]

i think this guy has hit on something. strip the win bonus if they're in the Chase. or dock them say, 100 Chase points (I like that even better, it puts them in a hole like Mikey was after Daytona.) So, even if they make the chase, they're seeded last. makes them work twice as hard to get half as much.