Jimmie Johnson insists that his team did not cheat at Las Vegas. Credit: Autostock

Smith: NASCAR's punishment too severe

There's an age-old racing adage that aptly describes how important it is to remain ahead of the competition: "If ya ain't cheatin', ya ain't tryin'."

Most don't call it cheating, mind you. Most call it "testing the gray area."

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Regardless how one chooses to label it, most do it. Pushing the envelope in the tech line is common practice. Most weekends, a large percentage of teams are sent back to the garage for alterations after NASCAR deems a part, piece or portion of its racecar illegal.

(And most times, NASCAR places those parts and pieces on display, so as to inform the entire free world who is cheating and how.)

The irony of it all is that, the better the team, the harder it is to cheat.

Top-five teams are subjected to more scrupulous inspection from NASCAR than back-markers receive, both in pre-and-post-race inspection.

But here's the thing: there is a distinct difference between blatant disregard for the rules and inadvertent happenings during an event.

That's why NASCAR's decision to suspend Chad Knaus is downright preposterous, as asinine a decision as I've seen them make.

They've decided to make an example of Knaus. It's no secret he pushes the envelope, and this time NASCAR sought to teach him a lesson.

But the decision is ill-timed. The No. 48 Chevy obviously cleared pre-race inspection, meaning it was resting at the proper height before the event began.

Jimmie Johnson cruises at Las Vegas for his first win of 2005 Johnson celebrates his UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 win Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

But according to driver Jimmie Johnson, during competition the locking system on the wedge bolt came undone, enabling the wedge bolt to back itself out. NASCAR closely monitors modifications made to the cars during pit stops, so if a crewmember had manually altered the bolt, a pit road official would likely have seen it.

Johnson said that in post-race inspection, the threads on the bolt in question were shiny, showing that it had worked its way out during the race. When the bolt was screwed back in to its original, pre-race position, the No. 48 Chevrolet met the minimum height requirement.

So the No. 48 team left Vegas Sunday evening thinking everything was fine.

Instead they received a fine.

And had 25 points snatched away.

And lost their crew chief theoretically for two races.

Know what's the oddest thing about the whole situation? According to Johnson, the fact that his rear quarter panels were too low -- thereby making the car too short to meet the minimum roof requirement -- is actually a disadvantage.

"As we all know, we've cut the spoilers off and the whole goal is to pick the back of the car up," Johnson said. "Our quarter panels were low and it threw the roof height off, and that's where NASCAR has a problem with things. That's where the rule lies.

Jimmie Johnson: Height was a disadvantage. Credit: Autostock

"The roof height has to meet a minimum. Well, the back was low, it dropped the roof. Our car was at a disadvantage. If it was the other way and the back of the car was high, that's one of the gray areas that a crew chief has to push.

"It's a fine line that the crew chief has to play. But I have 100 percent trust and confidence in Chad that he's going to do everything he can within the rules."

That is precisely where the difference lies between Knaus' suspension and those given to Alan Gustafson and Todd Berrier.

Berrier's use of an illegal fuel cell on the No. 29 car was premeditated. He knew he was trying to sneak one by and admittedly deserves repercussions (though a month away from the track is excessive).

Meanwhile, the two-race suspension levied against Gustafson, while also excessive, makes some sense. The rear end of his No. 5 Chevy was high in post-race inspection, which even Johnson said is worth a red flag.

Speaking of red flags, I fear one is flying high over NASCAR in the wake of this decision. Why? Because it sets another precedent.

ALSO •   Knaus, Berrier and Gustafson penalized for violations at Vegas

Remember how infuriated many of you were last year when Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked 25 points for using inappropriate language on television, based largely on a precedent set earlier in the year by Ron Hornaday and Johnny Sauter in the Busch Series?

Think about that -- how they painted themselves in a corner with that precedent. Now imagine what this decision could potentially mean.

"We've got to get to the point where our crew chiefs quit messing with the rules," said NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter Tuesday evening. "The integrity of the sport is at stake, and the integrity of the sport is more important than anything else."

I couldn't agree more. I'm all for NASCAR sending a message that they won't tolerate foul play, but make certain the message is directed at the proper individuals. Chad Knaus is not that individual in this instance.

Per usual, NASCAR president Mike Helton will likely address the drivers and crew chiefs this weekend in Atlanta...

Once again, bravo. If a guy cheats, make him wish he hadn't.

But when you dole out that punishment, be damn sure he's actually cheating.

Marty Smith is a senior writer for NASCAR.COM. The opinions expressed are solely of the writer or subject.