NASCAR admits mistake in Marlin ruling

LAS VEGAS -- Sterling Marlin and NASCAR officials just can't seem to stay away from each other.

Just like Daytona and Rockingham, Marlin was a factor in a possible winning-rule violation that could have gone either way for him.

Fortunately, the decision went in his favor, this time, as he captured victory in the UAW-GM DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.

There were no red flags or late-race cautions being debated this time. This week's issue - whether Marlin exceeded the 45-mph speed limit on pit road but didn't get the usual 15-second penalty.

Marlin was just heading toward pit road for a green-flag pit stop when Jerry Nadeau tagged his car from behind. Marlin slid sideways and saved the car before making his way toward his pit stall at the high rate of speed.

The reason there was no penalty? NASCAR management said the official assigned to the No. 40 Coors Dodge pit box didn't receive the communication from the control tower.

"We communicated (the penalty) to the pit official that there would be a 15-second penalty," said Jim Hunter, vice president of communications for NASCAR. "The pit official didn't get the penalty. The guy in the tower gave the command three times, but our official didn't hear it."

According to Hunter, the two officials on either side of Marlin's pit official didn't hear it either.

"We think, under those circumstances, that it would have been too severe a penalty to bring Marlin back into the pits to assess the penalty. As it turned out, he was clearly one of the fastest cars on the track for the rest of the race.

"We made a mistake. There have been other instances in NASCAR's history these types of things have occurred. This was a gaffe and we have to find out why it happened whether it was faulty equipment, static or faulty radios.

"This does not happen very often. I don't think this incident affected the outcome."

Greg Zipadelli, crew chief for Tony Stewart and the No. 20 Home Depot Pontiac, thought differently. Stewart led four times for a race-high 76 laps.

"We had a great car," Zipadelli said. "We had a great car again today and then what do we have to do? We had a top-five car.

"And, they let the No. 40 car speed on pit road and they don't get him. So, I don't know what to tell you about it. You let the No. 40 car speed on pit road and then you don't give the infraction and then he wins the race."