Did NASCAR steal JPM's first oval win?

[Ray]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news;_yl ... &type=lgns

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP)—NASCAR has warned Hendrick Motorsports that the cars of Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin came very close to failing post-race inspection following their 1-2 finish at Dover last week.

The two Chevrolets owned by Hendrick Motorsports came within less than an inch of surpassing the tolerated measurements on the body of their cars. Martin is currently leading the points, and three-time defending series champion Johnson is second in the standings.

The crew chiefs for both drivers say they weren’t cheating, and in-race damage may have caused the cars to creep toward the maximum allowances.

NASCAR is not penalizing either team, but they have been warned

BS they are cheating my man JPM----again!! [-X

I believe that they cheated JPM out at Indy, but you can't penalized a team for almost breaking a rule.

[Mr Alcatraz]

Good point Ray!


The wind really screwed some drivers while blessing others!
Scott Speed ahead of Jimmie Johnson and Montoya
Look for juan to follow JJ up near the front in short order;)

[Ciro Pabón]

Well, Ray, maybe the rule has a tolerance, like in "3 feet +- 1 inch". If you're in the borderline, perhaps a warning is appropriate. We'll never know because NASCAR regulations aren't public.

[Giblet]

Well, Ray, maybe the rule has a tolerance, like in "3 feet +- 1 inch". If you're in the borderline, perhaps a warning is appropriate. We'll never know because NASCAR regulations aren't public.

I've also heard that NASCAR rules are written in pencil.

[Ray]

Well, Ray, maybe the rule has a tolerance, like in "3 feet +- 1 inch". If you're in the borderline, perhaps a warning is appropriate. We'll never know because NASCAR regulations aren't public.

A warning is fine, but a rules infraction is just that. A rules infraction. Almost breaking a rule isn't the same as actually breaking it. Mark Martins' car has been through tech inspection more than any other car this year, and Jimmie Johnsons' crew chief has broken rules to the tune of something like 200k in fines in his career so far. So that may be why this was revealed to the public. As a race team you have to push to the very limit in every area of the car, because if you don't your rivals will and they'll beat you every time. My personal opinion is that this is a non-issue. Hendrick races teams are doing what every other team is doing, and this only came out because the current champion got a warning. Now if they could stop throwing BS cautions....

[Jersey Tom]

People are just making a big deal out of nothin. Tryin to make headlines.

[Mr Alcatraz]

JPM picks up 14 points on the lead =D>

[Mr Alcatraz]

Row three for Fontana Ciro =D>
Using the same car he drove at Indy.
This is the race he breaks through and gets a win [-o<

[Mr Alcatraz]

Row three for Fontana Ciro

Make that row two!

http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/head...wed/index.html

"This is a result of [Reutimann's car] exceeding gas-level limits in the rear shocks,"

[Mr Alcatraz]

Messin' with Sasquath [-X


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P86NxcAZ ... r_embedded[/youtube]

[Shrek]

I'm really thinking he might win a race before the end of the season

[Ciro Pabón]

I'm not sure if Mr. Montoya has the car. Johnson flies, I can tell that.

On a second thought, after reading Tazio (hey, very kind of you!) and Shrek's posts, I would guess that NASCAR officials were giving a clue to other competitors... sometimes officials seem desperate to equalize the race.

[Mr Alcatraz]

Juan (Sasquatch as I've affectionately nick-named him) will break through!
I'm curious why they couldn't get his car dialed when the marine layer burnt off and the track temp rose.
He was destroying the field while it was overcast!
Does it have something to do with the suspension geometry?
He was complaining of a lack of grip!

[jon-mullen]

I think he said they made some adjustment for the worse.

He's really hanging in there with the Hendricks cars, I wouldn't be surprised to see this come down to a DNF or the restrictor plate package between Martin Johnson and Montoya.

[Mr Alcatraz]

I wouldn't be surprised to see this come down to a DNF or the restrictor plate package between Martin Johnson and Montoya.

That could well happen and if it does it will be a real steel-cage match!