NOW LITTLE JEFFEY GORDON GOT BUSTED AS WELL.

[70charginglizard]

Gordon's winning car fails Duels inspection

Will start 42nd in Daytona 500 because of infraction

By David Caraviello, NASCAR.COM
February 15, 2007
10:09 PM EST



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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- First, four cars were busted for illegal modifications. Then, another was thrown out because of a mysterious substance discovered in the manifold. What would this Speedweeks be without a height violation?

That's exactly what cropped up Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway, when the No. 24 car Jeff Gordon used to win the second twin 150-mile qualifying race was found to be an inch too low, according to NASCAR officials. Gordon retains credit for the victory, but as a penalty will start Sunday's Daytona 500 in 42nd position.



Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president for competition, said bolts had been misaligned on the rear shocks installed prior to Thursday's race. Once the race started, the load on those misaligned bolts caused the car's quarterpanels, but not the roof, to be lower than the minimum allowed height.

"Honestly, I think it's something a mechanic made a mistake on as he bolted the shocks on during the installation process," Pemberton said.

That's of little solace to Gordon, who wasn't happy to hear the news.

"I hate to hear that. That sucks," he said before the violation was announced. "I'm curious to know how low it is. If we're talking a millimeter, that's one thing. If we're talking a half an inch, that's different."

Pemberton added that NASCAR was convinced the infraction was unintentional, and that no fines or point deductions would be warranted. Gordon, a three-time winner of the Daytona 500, will vacate his fourth-place starting position and instead roll off 42nd. Dale Jarrett, who got into the race on a past champion's provisional, will start last.

"I would say that this would be the end of the penalties on the 24 car," Pemberton said.

That's a welcome change for NASCAR, which has doled out a season's worth of penalties over the last five days.

The crew chiefs of Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Scott Riggs and Elliott Sadler were all banished from Daytona after illegal modifications were discovered on each of their cars during qualifying Sunday.

The same day, Michael Waltrip's crew chief was suspended indefinitely for an illegal substance found in the manifold of the No. 55 car. All four drivers also suffered point deductions, and all four crew chiefs were hit with fines.

In that regard, an unintentional violation is viewed as progress.

"It's a step in the right direction, yes," Pemberton said.

[hemihead]

Check JR! Check JR! Oh can't , he's the poster boy. 

[74340charger]

For a sport that was created out of illegal activity, I'm really surprised how many people are shocked that some rule breaking happens. It almost seems that some people hate jeff for the same reasons they hate payton maning, good looking, gets the girls, gets the publicity, the money, and oh yeah, wins a lot more than they lose. I really don't like tony stewart, one reason, he is a hypocrite. Don't give speeches on dangerous driving than act the same way you were preaching against (jerk)

[hookem78613]

I am not really a big fan of Nascar but I do follow the major stories.  Isn't the point of racing to go faster than the other person?  So shouldn't modifications be allowed as long as safety issues are followed?  It's not just the driver... it's the car, the crew and all the other things that go into building a race team.  Or is that just a twisted point of view from someone who doesn't know any better.

Enlighten me... 

[74340charger]

That is at it's roots many years ago. run a factory produced car that has a few safty things. but NASCAR really screwed it up when Chrysler introduced the "Areo" cars. they stomped all over every one and so NASCAR took it's first step down the really slippery slope of tring to create parody. That is the short end of it.

[MichaelRW]

It seems these NASCAR teams have been watching too much ML Baseball.

[The70RT]

For a sport that was created out of illegal activity, I'm really surprised how many people are shocked that some rule breaking happens. It almost seems that some people hate jeff for the same reasons they hate payton maning, good looking, gets the girls, gets the publicity, the money, and oh yeah, wins a lot more than they lose. I really don't like tony stewart, one reason, he is a hypocrite. Don't give speeches on dangerous driving than act the same way you were preaching against (jerk)

The reason people that I know don't like him is because he is a cry baby. Stuart took his place as of late. Wins more than he looses......no body did that except the KING. Good looking...............ok. I think his money has more to do with it. I dont think Kurt Busch got that lovely thing hanging all over him for his big ears?

[Troy]

That is at it's roots many years ago. run a factory produced car that has a few safty things. but NASCAR really screwed it up when Chrysler introduced the "Areo" cars. they stomped all over every one and so NASCAR took it's first step down the really slippery slope of tring to create parody. That is the short end of it.

I know you probably didn't mean it but I also find that "parody" is more fitting when talking about NASCAR than "parity".

Troy

[dkn1997]

Besides waltrip putting jet fuel on his intakeor suntan lotion, or whatever, could some of these infractions be due to a rule change?  Or are there always this many and since espn is getting back into the coverage, maybe we are just hearing about it now.?

[The70RT]

Besides waltrip putting jet fuel on his intakeor suntan lotion, or whatever, could some of these infractions be due to a rule change?  Or are there always this many and since espn is getting back into the coverage, maybe we are just hearing about it now.?

Everyone gets the same fuel and additives and you can't alter it. The winning team gets a million dollars so all the teams try to get an advantage. Im sure some slide by and don't get caught. When nascar finds a problem the driver starts at the back of the field so you always know about it.

[dkn1997]

What I meant was the the other teams seem to be getting suspension/body violations.  there has to be at least 4 or 5 penalties so far.  Maybe because I was actually the race the last couple of years, but I don't remember that many.  Although for a while now, the race gets almost no coverage in the weeks leading up.

my question was does anyone think that there are not any more infractions than usual, but that there seem to be more with the increased media coverage.

a bit off topic, but they had an analyst on the local sports station today, he said the way you win is 2/3 car, 1/3 driver.  he said the days of a really good driver piloting an average care to victory are over, said that you would do better with a great car and an average driver.

[Guns N Rotors]

[quote author=dkn1997 link=topic=24750.msg269334#msg269334 date=1171690053

my question was does anyone think that there are not any more infractions than usual, but that there seem to be more with the increased media coverage.

There has always been cheating in NASCAR. Richard and Maurice Petty were masters at it. Maurice was so good,
NASCAR hired him as an inspector. "You need a thief to catch a thief." said Bill France.

Check these stories out...
http://members.aol.com/jalan5000a/com0046.html

[Ghoste]

...a bit off topic, but they had an analyst on the local sports station today, he said the way you win is 2/3 car, 1/3 driver.  he said the days of a really good driver piloting an average care to victory are over, said that you would do better with a great car and an average driver.

I won't pretend to be qualified to agree or disagree with him, but I will say that I find one thing interesting.  Sportscasters always know EXACTLY what every coach should call, what every official missed, what every quarteback should have done.  They commit to memroy every little stat about every sport ever played.  They know the draft and why each team owner should pick someone other than who they did.  And yet, in spite of being armed with this enormous store of knowledge, most sportscasters are never asked to coach, manage, own, center, quarterback, referee, drive, get water or even throw out the first pitch.  But we all still tune in to our favorites faithfully.  Must be a man thing huh?

[ds440]

Just my two cents...

I don't think that there have been more infractions than usual this year.  I DO think that there has been an increase in media scrutiny (probably for several reasons).  If you take away the MW/fuel incident then what you have are typical restrictor plate infractions.  And as far as the MW/fuel incident, someone gets caught every couple of years doing something stupid.

Remember Jeremy Mayfield and his fuel additive 'scandal' at Talladega in 2000?
Kurt Busch and the ball bearing filled frame rails? (which coincidently Darrell Waltrip did in the early 80s, I believe).
Tony Stewert's car at Texas that was so illegal they impounded before the first practice and put it on display?
Tire gate with Gordon/Evernham?
...and I'm not even going to start with the Pettys and Smokey Yunick....

It's just my opinion...but this stuff happens every once in awhile in Nascar.

If you want to see cheating...watch Formula 1.   Those guys take CHEATING to a whooole 'nother level.

[Brock Samson]

i was watching the LEGENDS cars on SPEED and that was some GREAT Racing!
screw NASCAR.. as much as i'd have wanna had been involved in 1960s when i was a kid,.. I sure ain't involved now... that series is dead to me.. jumped the shark waaaaay back..