pandr
03-22-2012, 09:17 PM
Suspensions lifted, but Knaus fine stands
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
By Jim Utter
Tuesday, Mar. 20, 2012
This time, Jimmie Johnson got satisfaction.
NASCAR’s chief appellate officer, John Middlebrook, decided Tuesday to rescind the six-week suspensions of crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec and the 25-point penalties assessed by NASCAR to Johnson and the No. 48 team’s owner from a rule violation before the Daytona 500.
Knaus still must pay a $100,000 fine and he and Malec will remain on probation through May 9.
“I’m glad this is over; it’s been a long 30 days, I guess. I appreciate the fact that we had an opportunity to present all the facts, and I was happy with the outcome and to see the points reinstated, Chad reinstated and” Malec, said team owner Rick Hendrick.
“I would have liked to have the fine gone too because I think there was no reason for any kind of penalty. But when you’re making these kinds of decisions and you’re at a race track, it’s hard to make all the right decisions or right judgment.”
In the statement announcing his decision, Middlebrook declined to offer any insight as to his reasoning, particularly why he tossed out most of the penalties but kept the $100,000 fine.
That left many in NASCAR scratching their heads.
“If the rule infraction was so small that he felt comfortable in rescinding the points and the suspensions, what justifies there still being a $100,000 fine?” said Speed TV analyst and former crew chief Larry McReynolds.
“If there wasn’t a rule infraction, throw the whole thing out, including the $100,000 fine. That, I do not understand.”
Since taking the office at the start of the 2010 season, Middlebrook has heard four appeals and reduced the penalty in each of them.
The return of Johnson’s 25 points leaves him 11th in the standings heading to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., this weekend – a track on which Johnson has won five times.
Last week, a three-member panel of the appeals board unanimously upheld the penalties against the No. 48 team for unapproved modifications made to the C-Post area of the car – pillars that come down from the roof to the quarter panel.
The violation was discovered during opening-day inspection for the Daytona 500.
Knaus said he felt only partially vindicated.
“Obviously we’re not happy with the fine. That’s an awful lot of money for something that was clearly, obviously proved to be OK, so that hurts a little bit,” he said.
“But, it’s not about vindication, it’s over with. It’s time to move on, time to focus on trying to make the Chase and seeing what we can do with the No. 48 team.”
C/p ThatsRacin
By Jim Utter - charlotteobserver
By Jim Utter
Tuesday, Mar. 20, 2012
This time, Jimmie Johnson got satisfaction.
NASCAR’s chief appellate officer, John Middlebrook, decided Tuesday to rescind the six-week suspensions of crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec and the 25-point penalties assessed by NASCAR to Johnson and the No. 48 team’s owner from a rule violation before the Daytona 500.
Knaus still must pay a $100,000 fine and he and Malec will remain on probation through May 9.
“I’m glad this is over; it’s been a long 30 days, I guess. I appreciate the fact that we had an opportunity to present all the facts, and I was happy with the outcome and to see the points reinstated, Chad reinstated and” Malec, said team owner Rick Hendrick.
“I would have liked to have the fine gone too because I think there was no reason for any kind of penalty. But when you’re making these kinds of decisions and you’re at a race track, it’s hard to make all the right decisions or right judgment.”
In the statement announcing his decision, Middlebrook declined to offer any insight as to his reasoning, particularly why he tossed out most of the penalties but kept the $100,000 fine.
That left many in NASCAR scratching their heads.
“If the rule infraction was so small that he felt comfortable in rescinding the points and the suspensions, what justifies there still being a $100,000 fine?” said Speed TV analyst and former crew chief Larry McReynolds.
“If there wasn’t a rule infraction, throw the whole thing out, including the $100,000 fine. That, I do not understand.”
Since taking the office at the start of the 2010 season, Middlebrook has heard four appeals and reduced the penalty in each of them.
The return of Johnson’s 25 points leaves him 11th in the standings heading to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., this weekend – a track on which Johnson has won five times.
Last week, a three-member panel of the appeals board unanimously upheld the penalties against the No. 48 team for unapproved modifications made to the C-Post area of the car – pillars that come down from the roof to the quarter panel.
The violation was discovered during opening-day inspection for the Daytona 500.
Knaus said he felt only partially vindicated.
“Obviously we’re not happy with the fine. That’s an awful lot of money for something that was clearly, obviously proved to be OK, so that hurts a little bit,” he said.
“But, it’s not about vindication, it’s over with. It’s time to move on, time to focus on trying to make the Chase and seeing what we can do with the No. 48 team.”
C/p ThatsRacin