 | | Chad Knaus will miss the Daytona 500 and possibly more races. Credit: Autostock |
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
February 13, 2006
06:13 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.  |   | ALSO | Crew chief Chad Knaus faces possible suspension for altering the height of the rear window in driver Jimmie Johnson's car before Sunday's qualifying for the Daytona 500.
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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. | 
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"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.'' | 
