LB51 Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Chad Knaus will miss the Daytona 500 and possibly more races. Credit: Autostock Knaus ejected from Daytona SpeedweeksAdditional penalties to follow for both 48 and 96 teamBy David Newton, NASCAR.COMFebruary 13, 200606:13 PM EST (23:13 GMT) DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jimmie Johnson will be without crew chief Chad Knaus for Sunday's Daytona 500 and perhaps for as many as two more Nextel Cup races. On Monday, Knaus was suspended from the Daytona 500 and all other activities leading up to the race, just 24 hours after Johnson's car failed post-qualifying inspection in the rear window area.Sources close to NASCAR said Knaus likely will receive further suspensions for California and possibly Las Vegas, reminding that Todd Berrier was suspended for four weeks and fined $25,000 last season for doctoring a fuel cell on Kevin Harvick's car at Las Vegas.An appeal to reduce Berrier's suspension was rejected by the National Stock Car Racing Association.Knaus could appeal further suspensions, but there is no appeal for this week because Knaus technically was ejected."In the NASCAR rule book, we can take emergency action to eject somebody from an event,'' NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said. "That's what we used here.''Sources said Knaus was ejected because there was a device that raised the rear window of Johnson's car, giving it an aerodynamic advantage in qualifying. Hunter would not comment on the specifics that helped Johnson to the fifth-fastest time, but said the violation was considered a blatant attempt to break the rules.He added that NASCAR president Mike Helton hopes Knaus' penalty sends a message to the rest of the garage. "This is a new season, a new day, and he is determined to get this season started off to where guys get the message that we're not going to tolerate this,'' Hunter said. "Guys have to understand how far they can push things.''Darian Grubb, the lead engineer for Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon, will assume Knaus' responsibilities for the rest of the week."It's obviously disappointing to miss the biggest race of the year, but I'm confident in Darian and the rest of my teammates,'' Knaus said in a prepared statement. "There's been a lot of effort put into the Daytona 500, and I know the team will be successful with the support they'll receive from the entire organization.''Team owner Rick Hendrick agreed."We understand NASCAR's position,'' he said. "Our expectations for the team remain high. It's a deep, championship-caliber group and they'll step up this weekend.''This is not the first time Knaus has faced penalties from NASCAR. He was suspended for two races and fined $35,000, Johnson was penalized 25 driver points and Hendrick 25 owner points after it was determined the roof height was too low after last season's race at Las Vegas.The suspension later was overruled, but the fine and points reduction were not.The height of Johnson's car also was questioned last fall at Dover, after which NASCAR passed a rule outlawing the shock configuration the team had developed."There are gray areas we expect teams to exploit,'' Hunter said. "We know everybody is looking for every little advantage. But when these templates don't fit, they don't fit. It's not fair to the other competitors to let one team get way with it.''Johnson must start at the rear of the field in the first of Thursday's 150-mile qualifying races that will determine the final 41 positions for the Daytona 500.Jeff Burton won the pole and Gordon qualified second on Sunday when only the front row was determined.Terry Labonte, driving he No. 96 car for Hall of Fame Racing with an engine prepared by Joe Gibbs Racing, also had his time disallowed because of an illegal carburetor.He will start from the rear of the field on Thursday, and additional penalties for that car could follow."We're very serious about this,'' Hunter said. "We've got to make sure everybody plays by the same rules.'' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Whoa. He's trying to cheat that blatantly in the first race out of the box!?! They better not even fart funny the rest of the year because it's sounds like they pissed off the Nascar officials BIG TIME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Whoa. He's trying to cheat that blatantly in the first race out of the box!?! They better not even fart funny the rest of the year because it's sounds like they pissed off the Nascar officials BIG TIME!Yeah when you go from being fined to being suspended you've PO'ed somebody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyFan20 Posted February 14, 2006 Report Share Posted February 14, 2006 Not harsh enough. IMO Sit the whole team out for the 500 and then sit out Chad for the 1st 10 races. I bet you wouldn't see that team and any other team who tries to cheat ever cheat again if that happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Not harsh enough. IMO Sit the whole team out for the 500 and then sit out Chad for the 1st 10 races. I bet you wouldn't see that team and any other team who tries to cheat ever cheat again if that happens.Good idea, but never happen -- NASCAR's connection with keeping sponsers happy would never allow it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pesty_2008 Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 That basterd just wonts to win a campinship this year he's tird of alwas finshing second at the end of season points that whole team is gay thoe so they can all be suppended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 That basterd just wonts to win a campinship this year he's tird of alwas finshing second at the end of season points that whole team is gay thoe so they can all be suppendedNot a fan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 That basterd just wonts to win a campinship this year he's tird of alwas finshing second at the end of season points that whole team is gay thoe so they can all be suppendedUh...how did we end up tying cheating to a persons sexuality? I've know quite a few gay/lesbian couples, some for as long as a decade. "Cheating" (taxes aside!) was something I never observed in any of those relationships.As far as my much larger pool of friends as heterosexual couples, (both married and dating) I found "cheating" to be much more common place. Men were usually the worst offenders, but not by as big a margin as you may think. The women were far more disiplined and discreet about it. Men were letting the little head do all the thinking. Surprise there, huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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