Jimmie Johnson penalized

[Pabig]

via NASCAR Facebook:

No. 48 crew chief Chad Knaus and car chief Ron Malec have been handed six-race suspensions for NASCAR for a violation found during opening-day inspection at Daytona. Jimmie Johnson was docked 25 driver points.

This makes Jimmie the 2nd driver in recent history to have negative points.

 

[Phantomguy24]

Well it's about time Nascar took some definitive action against that 48 crew. You can only "push the limits" so many times before it becomes plain old cheating.

 

[Ryan597]

Wow, didn't see that coming.

I expected a fine or something but I'm actually happier with this. They deserved it.

 

[4WideRacing]

I started laughing when I got the text from Twitter that said he was docked 25 points knowing that he would have negative points. Should be interesting to see how well the #48 runs with the suspensions, it seems like it helps them more than it hurts. Also if this is indeed the car that Nascar inspected at the R&D center last fall and didn't find the problem is it that Nascar just didn't want to ruin the "reason" Johnson lost the championship? Or is it that it wasn't a problem but now Nascar says it is?

 

[Markfan]

I guess you could say that Jimmie's points season

is headed the wrong way.

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[Carl Robinson]

Its a tad sad to see this happen to a 5-time championship crew chief. I mean I dont feel for him at all but it really hurts the credibility of all those involved with that Team.

 

[Tim2488]

So is Gordon's since he owns Jimmie's Car. (n)

 

[Markfan]

Its a tad sad to see this happen to a 5-time championship crew chief. I mean I dont feel for him at all but it really hurts the credibility of all those involved with that Team.

Chad Knaus has been caught cheating countless times in the past. I think it's ridiculous that NASCAR hasn't banned him already, let alone think that he wouldn't do something like this again.

 

[4WideRacing]

So is Gordon's since he owns Jimmie's Car. (n)

But it doesn't affect his drivers points or his #24 owners points. It's not that big of a deal for him.

 

[Paul Johnson]

But it doesn't affect his drivers points or his #24 owners points. It's not that big of a deal for him.

From speed:

Driver Jimmie Johnson and car owner Jeff Gordon have been penalized with the loss of 25 driver and 25 owner points, respectively.

 

[4WideRacing]

From speed:

Respectively means that Jimmie lost 25 driver points and Jeff lost 25 owner points for the #48 team but it doesn't affect Jeff as a driver or the #24 team.

 

[johnp]

-23 LOL...if it wasn't for the wild card, I'd say Jimmie misses the chase but he will probably win a couple to get in.

 

[Phantomguy24]

I doubt a 25 point setback is enough to make him miss the chase. However, I was just thinking. What if Jimmie struggles these next four races. could we see the 48 team outside the top 35? I know it's very unlikely but wouldn't that be something.

 

[johnp]

I doubt a 25 point setback is enough to make him miss the chase. However, I was just thinking. What if Jimmie struggles these next four races. could we see the 48 team outside the top 35? I know it's very unlikely but wouldn't that be something.

Haha...and then he spins out during qualifying at Martinsville and everyone on the SRD Forums flips out cause he would get the PC Provisional...lol

 

[Relly]

I'm glad NASCAR came down this hard, it seems like every season now Knaus and that team have pushed the limits and got caught cheating, even though this infraction isn't that big IMO, this was more of NASCAR reacting to Knaus continually "cheating"

I don't think any of this will effect Johnson though, he's still a 5 time champ and has great driving ability, he'll still make the Chase and win his fair share of races.

 

[Carl Robinson]

I mean I think nascar seriously overlooked that situation at talladega in the chase.

 

[clearstatic]

This isn't good for Nascar to have one of its most decorated teams caught using illegal modifications. I know Chad has been suspended many times, but the last was in 07 so it's been a while. Jimmie is far more popular or the face of Nascar now than back in 07. I wonder if Nascar will sit Chad down and tell him that he does this again he'll be banned for the season or something. You can only fine and suspend so many times that it will lose it's effectiveness.

 

[ShadowKnight508]

A true shame for the #48 team as a whole, but when it comes to staying within the established rules and the "gray area" that NASCAR sets for the teams, Chad and the #48's Car Chief once again pushed the envelope a bit too far when it comes to the car's body.

 

[Cheeze]

What I don't understand is why NASCAR is banning crew chiefs and car chiefs before the car even hits the track. Isn't that what inspection's for? To let teams change what they have to to make the car legal before it hits the track?

If it fails post-race inspection, sure, ban Chad and company, but for failing pre-PRACTICE inspection? C'mon man!

 

[starscream24]

My thoughts on the situation:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIrhVo1WA78&feature=related"]Nelson - ha ha! - YouTube[/ame]