pandr
03-03-2012, 08:59 PM
Knaus’ view has visual appeal
Crew chief contends templates weren’t applied upon first inspection.
By Ron Green Jr. - charlotteobserver
Friday, Mar. 02, 2012
AVONDALE, Ariz. A dismal – and brief – Daytona 500 behind them and with a heavy penalty awaiting the appeals process, crew chief Chad Knaus and driver Jimmie Johnson are intent on focusing on what’s happening this weekend at NASCAR’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
That might be easier said than done.
With no date set for Hendrick Motorsports’ appeal of Knaus’ six-race suspension, $100,000 fine and the loss of 25 points for a team that finished 42nd among the 43-car field at Daytona, it’s not an issue that soon will disappear. The No.48 team was penalized for unapproved modifications to the C-posts, contoured sheet metal stretching from the roof to the rear edge of the window openings.
Knaus will be allowed to continue working until the appeal is heard.
“We didn’t expect this,” Knaus said in the garage area Friday morning. “It’s not the way we wanted to start off the season, but it’s good to have the support of everyone at Hendrick Motorsports and we’ll go after this thing and hopefully get it resolved and get back to business. Right now we’re focused on Phoenix and trying to win this championship.”
Knaus said he was surprised by what has happened since the car was determined to have failed a visual inspection prior to the Daytona 500.
“I didn’t expect any of it to be honest with you,” he said. “We do everything we can to build the best race cars we possibly can to bring to the race track, and that’s what we do. Unfortunately, they didn’t like something so we’ve got to address that.”
Knaus reiterated team owner Rick Hendrick’s assertion that nothing had changed on the No.48 body from last year’s restrictor-plate race set-up. Knaus said the same car set-up had passed inspection at all four restrictor-plate races last year.
At Daytona last month, Knaus said the No.48 Chevrolet was deemed to have failed based on a visual inspection.
“It was all visual,” he said. “The templates were never actually put on the car. It was just a visual inspection at that point. We never actually got the opportunity to present that car on the templates. It’s unfortunate. It’s a bit of subjectiveness to it.”
Knaus said that point will be made during the team’s hearing with NASCAR.
It is the fifth time Knaus has been suspended by NASCAR. He had a two-race suspension overturned on appeal in 2005 and, most recently, served a six-week suspension in 2007. He and Johnson have teamed for 54 Cup series victories and five championships.
“I believe in the system,” Johnson said. “I know and believe in my guys.”
The heavy penalty was a popular topic among the prerace chatter at Phoenix. Driver Denny Hamlin, who finished fourth in the Daytona 500, said he wasn’t surprised by the decision handed down by NASCAR.
“I think NASCAR does not like the wool to be pulled over their eyes,” Hamlin said. “I feel like that could possibly have happened at Talladega (Ala.) last year and so it was the first real opportunity to inspect things pretty closely. I think obviously when you do that, you always try to stay in NASCAR’s good graces and I think that NASCAR has just had heavy eyes for those guys early in the season.”
Jeff Gordon, a teammate of Johnson’s, voiced concerns about NASCAR’s actions, pointing out that Knaus and his crew essentially rebuilt the No.48 before the Daytona 500 to accommodate NASCAR.
“It seems to me to be sending a stronger message than I think needs to be sent,” Gordon said. “I was surprised at how tough the penalty was, but I’m glad that we’re going to appeal it. I feel like there’s a reason to appeal it.”
Johnson defended his car and crew chief when asked if he is concerned about the reputation of his crew chief and car.
“Absolutely not,” Johnson said. “There is a strict tech procedure that exists in our sport and there isn’t a car that has been more scrutinized over the last decade than the No.48 car. I have no concerns.”
Throughout the history of the sport, there has been a thin line between taking every advantage the rules allow and stepping over the line. To driver Carl Edwards, he wants his team to push the rules as far as they can if it will help him on the track.
“I want my crew and all my guys at the shop to push the limits of everything with the cars, with all the rules to bring the absolute fastest race car out here. If you don’t someone else is,” Edwards said.
“You are trying to do that so you can gain points and get an advantage. If you get caught with something and you lose points, then all that is right out the window and you have to start all over again.”
Copyright 2012 . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
C/P Thats Racin
Crew chief contends templates weren’t applied upon first inspection.
By Ron Green Jr. - charlotteobserver
Friday, Mar. 02, 2012
AVONDALE, Ariz. A dismal – and brief – Daytona 500 behind them and with a heavy penalty awaiting the appeals process, crew chief Chad Knaus and driver Jimmie Johnson are intent on focusing on what’s happening this weekend at NASCAR’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.
That might be easier said than done.
With no date set for Hendrick Motorsports’ appeal of Knaus’ six-race suspension, $100,000 fine and the loss of 25 points for a team that finished 42nd among the 43-car field at Daytona, it’s not an issue that soon will disappear. The No.48 team was penalized for unapproved modifications to the C-posts, contoured sheet metal stretching from the roof to the rear edge of the window openings.
Knaus will be allowed to continue working until the appeal is heard.
“We didn’t expect this,” Knaus said in the garage area Friday morning. “It’s not the way we wanted to start off the season, but it’s good to have the support of everyone at Hendrick Motorsports and we’ll go after this thing and hopefully get it resolved and get back to business. Right now we’re focused on Phoenix and trying to win this championship.”
Knaus said he was surprised by what has happened since the car was determined to have failed a visual inspection prior to the Daytona 500.
“I didn’t expect any of it to be honest with you,” he said. “We do everything we can to build the best race cars we possibly can to bring to the race track, and that’s what we do. Unfortunately, they didn’t like something so we’ve got to address that.”
Knaus reiterated team owner Rick Hendrick’s assertion that nothing had changed on the No.48 body from last year’s restrictor-plate race set-up. Knaus said the same car set-up had passed inspection at all four restrictor-plate races last year.
At Daytona last month, Knaus said the No.48 Chevrolet was deemed to have failed based on a visual inspection.
“It was all visual,” he said. “The templates were never actually put on the car. It was just a visual inspection at that point. We never actually got the opportunity to present that car on the templates. It’s unfortunate. It’s a bit of subjectiveness to it.”
Knaus said that point will be made during the team’s hearing with NASCAR.
It is the fifth time Knaus has been suspended by NASCAR. He had a two-race suspension overturned on appeal in 2005 and, most recently, served a six-week suspension in 2007. He and Johnson have teamed for 54 Cup series victories and five championships.
“I believe in the system,” Johnson said. “I know and believe in my guys.”
The heavy penalty was a popular topic among the prerace chatter at Phoenix. Driver Denny Hamlin, who finished fourth in the Daytona 500, said he wasn’t surprised by the decision handed down by NASCAR.
“I think NASCAR does not like the wool to be pulled over their eyes,” Hamlin said. “I feel like that could possibly have happened at Talladega (Ala.) last year and so it was the first real opportunity to inspect things pretty closely. I think obviously when you do that, you always try to stay in NASCAR’s good graces and I think that NASCAR has just had heavy eyes for those guys early in the season.”
Jeff Gordon, a teammate of Johnson’s, voiced concerns about NASCAR’s actions, pointing out that Knaus and his crew essentially rebuilt the No.48 before the Daytona 500 to accommodate NASCAR.
“It seems to me to be sending a stronger message than I think needs to be sent,” Gordon said. “I was surprised at how tough the penalty was, but I’m glad that we’re going to appeal it. I feel like there’s a reason to appeal it.”
Johnson defended his car and crew chief when asked if he is concerned about the reputation of his crew chief and car.
“Absolutely not,” Johnson said. “There is a strict tech procedure that exists in our sport and there isn’t a car that has been more scrutinized over the last decade than the No.48 car. I have no concerns.”
Throughout the history of the sport, there has been a thin line between taking every advantage the rules allow and stepping over the line. To driver Carl Edwards, he wants his team to push the rules as far as they can if it will help him on the track.
“I want my crew and all my guys at the shop to push the limits of everything with the cars, with all the rules to bring the absolute fastest race car out here. If you don’t someone else is,” Edwards said.
“You are trying to do that so you can gain points and get an advantage. If you get caught with something and you lose points, then all that is right out the window and you have to start all over again.”
Copyright 2012 . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
C/P Thats Racin