[gpeck29]

Slippery Slope
I understand that NASCAR wants to protect its "project" in the new race car. Supposedly the car is safer and has a lot of features to protect the driver. However, I think we lost the individuality of the race cars and we are stifling the creativity of the teams. If NASCAR really wanted to protect the COT, then they should have written the rules in such a way that it was clear and concise, which obviously they are not.

DEI did every team owner a disservice by simply taking the penalty on the chin. They didn't appeal the penalty, allowing NASCAR to set the precedent of this type of penalty. You may not be a DEI fan, you may not be a Hendrick fan, but if your team uses the gray areas, plan on accepting the penalty.

Personally, I don’t agree that NASCAR wants to be fair and consistent with its penalties, as the organization states it does. What is consistent so far with the DEI and the Hendrick penalties. If anything, I think the DEI infraction was more severe, as NASCAR has a rule about the wing mount, and DEI simply used an old one before testing it. NASCAR can take DEI to the rule book and show them that they violated rule number such and such. I don't think that NASCAR can do that with Hendrick's infractions this past weekend.

The fender is a handmade part. Show me where NASCAR can accurately say that each of the fenders are the same in the field. They can't…not until the have better measuring methods. If tested with greater accuracy than the NASCAR Templates, I'd bet all the fenders were slightly different on every car in the field, but they fit the templates. Hendrick just used this to their advantage, the fender fit the template, but NASCAR didn't like what was between the templates.

If NASCAR wants all the cars to be the same, maybe they should buy IROC and we run the IROC series. The cars would be set up by the governing body, brought to the track by the governing body and then the teams given 2.5 days to make them better. I think this would end up in the same fate that IROC is now, not racing.

The innovation of the teams has gotten NASCAR where it is today, and I think NASCAR forgets that.

To the slippery slope, I think that we all should hope that Hendrick appeals any penalty. This is something that DEI didn't do. We need this to go to the appeals process to that NASCAR is kept in check with its rules and penalties. If Hendrick doesn't take this to the appeal process, NASCAR has free reign to give out stiff fines. If this were taken out of racing, there is no way that this would stand up in a court of law as a violation of breaking any rule or law. I hope that an appeal of any penalty will also make NASCAR look at its vagueness of rules, and ensure they are keeping on the same strait and narrow they want the teams to walk.

Seems like do as I say, not as I do when you are trying to raise kids.

[jks812]

1. I don't think DEI did every team owner a disservice by not appealing their penalty. They cheated, they got caught, they took their punishment. Now I'm sure if cheating was allowed they would have appealed. I really don't understand this whole appealing thing when what you did was wrong.
I think if any team cheats that their fans should just accept that the team gets a penalty.

2.
NASCAR brought teams to its research and development center over the winter to walk them through the COT inspection process, and has allowed them little room for error since the season began. One goal of the vehicle is to narrow tolerances and eliminate the "gray areas" crewmen have historically tweaked on the old car.
"For the Car of Tomorrow, we think everything is certified," Poston said. "That's why we brought the teams into the R&D center earlier this year to go through this very specific process with them, to let them know that we're going to keep the Car of Tomorrow vehicles, the new vehicles, in check. Today when you look at the current cars, the spoiler cars, clearly these are twisted cars. They've been able to run wild with the gray areas. We're going to shut that down, and we're going to keep this car in check so it's better for everybody."

That was off Nascar.com. I guess instead of just telling them, they even showed them.

3.Two of the Hendrick cars passed inspection and two failed. So if they thought it was okay to do this, why didn't they do it to all 4 cars and give all of them the advantage?

4.I agree they are trying to make all the cars alike. Kinda puts more of how good or bad they run on the driver.

[King43STP]

So gpeck29, you think that DEI should have fought the penalties. Do you know how many penalties have been turned around in the last 10 years? That's something that you should look at. DEI did what they thought was best for themselves and the sport. They knew that they only 1 chance in a thousand of getting the penalties reversed. Most times the appeals board increases the penalties. Now if they had done that, what would the bar be now?

[wardfan]

If the idea of the COT was that all the cars would be the same, why are there even any "grey areas"? Plus I thought the "grey area" in something usually meant there was no exact black & white rule in which case why should there be a penalty or fine? Something either fits the rule or not. If the car doesn't pass inspection, give them a chance to change whatever and then if it fails again they don't get to race. And if you have a car that doesn't pass how about making them pay a HUGH fine in order to get the re-inspection. Then, if the car fails the after race inspection then put the car in last place.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by wardfan

Plus I thought the "grey area" in something usually meant there was no exact black & white rule in which case why should there be a penalty or fine? Something either fits the rule or not.

Both cars -- the No. 24 driven by Jeff Gordon and the No. 48 driven by Jimmie Johnson -- were found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); 20-2.1E (parts or components of the car not previously approved by NASCAR that have been installed or modified to enhance aerodynamic performance will not be permitted); and 20-2H (fenders may not be cut or altered except for wheel or tire clearance which must be approved by the Series Director) of the 2007 NASCAR rule book. The violations were found during the initial inspection process last Friday.

Looks like they have put it in black and white. Maybe they meant it when they said they were gonna take the grey area away.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by jks812

Looks like they have put it in black and white. Maybe they meant it when they said they were gonna take the grey area away.

Bout dang time.... I was gettin sick of the Hendrick bunch playin the whole grey area crap.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Bout dang time.... I was gettin sick of the Hendrick bunch playin the whole grey area crap.

I agree. After reading that, I don't see how they even thought it was a grey area there.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by jks812

I agree. After reading that, I don't see how they even thought it was a grey area there.

Makes Hendrick look like a bigger jacka$$ for complaining that NA$CAR should define the grey area.

[Team Yates]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Makes Hendrick look like a bigger jacka$$ for complaining that NA$CAR should define the grey area.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp...p=ZSYYYYYYYYGB

[Team Yates]

Here's a family collage:
GORDON AND JOHNSON
HENDRICK

KNUASS (PLAY ON SPELLING)
LETARTE

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Team Yates

Here's a family collage:
GORDON AND JOHNSON
HENDRICK

KNUASS (PLAY ON SPELLING)
LETARTE

The best one is of Jimmie and Jeff.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Makes Hendrick look like a bigger jacka$$ for complaining that NA$CAR should define the grey area.

Yep, from what I read they defined it pretty good. Maybe Hendrick's would know that if they read it instead of assuming. Cause I don't see where you can read that and turn around and say, okay we can mess with it.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by jks812

Yep, from what I read they defined it pretty good. Maybe Hendrick's would know that if they read it instead of assuming. Cause I don't see where you can read that and turn around and say, okay we can mess with it.

Because he is Rick Hendrick and up to this point it has been thou shalt do what thou wants to.... NOT ANYMORE FELLON!

[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by jks812

20-2H (fenders may not be cut or altered except for wheel or tire clearance which must be approved by the Series Director) of the 2007 NASCAR rule book. The violations were found during the initial inspection process last Friday.

Looks like they have put it in black and white. Maybe they meant it when they said they were gonna take the grey area away.

It is apparent that Knaus and Letarte can't read. My dog couldn't have misinterpreted that rule. What makes a winning organization pull such a stunt? If Hendrick really didn't know (????) I would think he's be mighty hot under the collar.