 | | Jimmie Johnson backs Chad Knaus but admits "he stepped over the line." Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images |
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
February 15, 2006
06:25 PM EST (23:25 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Black is more prominent on the new paint scheme, uniform and helmet of Nextel Cup driver Jimmie Johnson. Johnson hopes that's not a reflection of his team's reputation. Good guys wear white, you know.  | 
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Addressing for the first time crew chief Chad Knaus' ejection from all track activities through Sunday's Daytona 500 -- not the first time Knaus has been in trouble with NASCAR for rule violations -- Johnson said that shouldn't taint anything he or the team has done in the past. "I hate it for the fans and anyone else watching and listening to think that this stuff puts a black cloud over the 48 team at times,'' Johnson said. "I don't like it. Hendrick Motorsports doesn't like it. [Primary sponsor] Lowe's doesn't like it. "But in our sport we are paid to push the envelope. We are paid to work hard in the gray areas, especially crew chiefs. That's where Chad has had some success and where Chad has helped Hendrick Motorsports grow to the next level.'' Knaus was ejected Monday after NASCAR determined that a track bar device was rigged to change the height of the rear window by more than three-quarters of an inch after pre-qualifying inspection Sunday. NASCAR officials called the device a blatant attempt to break the rules for a competitive advantage at Daytona International Speedway, where aerodynamics play a key role. Sources close to the sport said Knaus likely will be suspended for at least one more race, possibly two, when officials meet again next week. Johnson said he hasn't lost confidence in Knaus because of this incident or any others involving his crew chief. "I sleep well at night knowing that Chad Knaus is working his butt off to get me an advantage,'' Johnson said. "Unfortunately, he stepped over the line. It's something he feels terrible about. He's at home going crazy over this. I would imagine he would come back more conservative. "In some ways, I am disappointed because he has always been one to drive technology in our sport. He will be back after just a couple of weeks at home and he'll get over it.'' Robbie Loomis, who worked closely with Knaus the past four years while serving as the crew chief for Jeff Gordon, said Knaus is one of the best crew chiefs in the garage, "bar none.'' |  | | It wasn't the front of Jimmie Johnson's car rather the back that got Chad Knaus in trouble. Credit: Autostock |
| | | KNAUS OUT AT DAYTONA | On Monday, Chad Knaus was suspended from the Daytona 500 and all other activities leading up to the race.
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| CRACKING DOWN | In suspending Chad Knaus, NASCAR official John Darby sent a strong message that cheating will not be allowed.
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Loomis also admitted Knaus was willing to push the boundaries of the rules a little further than him. "The best description I have is put a tight rope across the tallest two buildings in New York and a crew chief has to jump on there and walk it,'' said Loomis, who resigned at Hendrick Motorsports late last season to oversee operations at Petty Enterprises. "I was on the tight rope, but I had little balance bar. [Knaus] was on the tight rope maybe walking a little tighter.'' But Loomis said you must be willing to get on the tight rope to be among the front-runners in the garage. "We don't encourage the crew chiefs at Petty Enterprises to go out there and blatantly break the rules, but I want them close to the water where if the waves were to roll up they might have to back up a little bit,'' he said. "I don't want them falling off the tight rope, but I want them walking it, 'cause if they're walking on the ground we're not going to be up there.'' Richie Gilmore, the director of motorsports at Dale Earnhardt Inc., said right or wrong Knaus's reputation has been damaged. He said Knaus has the same label that Todd Berrier got last year when NASCAR caught him twice last season. "Once they turned their season and started running well everybody was saying, 'Are they cheating or are they legal?''' Gilmore said. "Most of the time they're straight up. But all of a sudden you start running better and people think you're cheating.'' But Gilmore doesn't think Johnson, who has finished in the top five in points each of his first four seasons and collected 18 victories, has gotten where he is because Knaus cheats. "They've done it because Jimmie is a very good race-car driver and that's a great race team,'' he said. "They got caught with some stuff that they tried. As big of an organization as that is, with a guaranteed spot in the 500, that was probably pushing the envelope too much. "It's very easy to do when you get down here testing and you think you have a shot at the pole. You get very creative and you get outside of that box. For him and Jimmie's sake, that team now, boy, they've got a small window and they've got to come in and change that reputation.'' | | | | DRIVER PREVIEW | Jimmie Johnson said any discontent between he and Chad Knaus were untrue, as were the rumors they were parting ways.
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| JIMMIE JOHNSON | |
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Crew chiefs at several other teams said they might have been fired had they done what Knaus did. "I don't have all the answers for that,'' Gordon said. "[With] Chad's past, he might have more of a target on him going through that inspection. He's known for pushing the limits and you want a crew chief out there that pushes the limit. "But there is a limit and you've got to know where that limit is.'' Loomis said Knaus will bounce back strong. "This is unfortunate, because Daytona is like the Super Bowl and he's going to miss it,'' he said. "But when he comes back they better watch out.'' Johnson learned of the violation shortly after the Budweiser Shootout that followed qualifying. He said he had no knowledge that the window angle had been altered to put more air on the spoiler. "The drivers, we just get in and drive the cars,'' he said. Johnson said he and Knaus had lunch Tuesday to discuss a game plan, and that Knaus will be in touch with him and the crew throughout the week by phone and e-mail. Knaus has been replaced at the track by Darian Grubb, the chief engineer for Johnson and teammate Jeff Gordon. Johnson said it's up to him and the entire team to take on more responsibility. Johnson said Grubb was chosen because he's accustomed to sitting next to Knaus on the pit box and helping make calls. "I felt like [it was important] having someone up there that thinks and works like Chad when we are trying to talk to Chad at home in the evenings,'' Johnson said. We feel we are taking every step necessary to have a smooth experience with Chad gone.'' Johnson said he still can win one of Thursday's qualifying races that set the final 41 positions for Sunday and win the 500. He said owner Rick Hendrick has organized the teams where more people share in the crew chief's job. "Darian has been experiencing some of the load and understanding what it takes to be a crew chief,'' Johnson said. "It is his chance to shine. It's our entire team's chance to shine. "It will be easy to think the 48 is out of it. But all of our pride is on the line and we want to show the racing world this isn't going to keep us down.'' | 
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