Track Smack: Breaking down the HMS penalties

1) The ax has fallen on Hendrick Motorsports or, given it was the exact same penalty given to Tony Eury Jr., was it only a rubber mallet, designed to bruise but not really cause any damage?

Dave Rodman: At the risk of being ignorant or naive, I'll say it was far less than I expected. Ignorant or naive comes from my thinking this was a far more willful attempt at circumventing the spirit, if not the outright intent of the rules.

Raygan Swan: NASCAR is being fair with their penalties -- well, until Kurt Busch was involved. I think his penalty for nearly taking out a crewman was a bit light.

Joe Menzer: I think NASCAR did the only thing NASCAR could do. If the penalty was less than what the 8 got, it would look like they are pandering to Hendrick. More; and it looks like they are trying to even the playing field.

Raygan Swan: Joe, I agree and it adds a little something to the competition -- as artificial as it may be.

Dave Rodman: Huh? They ARE trying to even the playing field.

Joe Menzer: I meant points-wise, sort of like throwing a debris caution on the season to tighten up the field. Obviously they are trying to level the field competition-wise, as they should. They don't want ANYONE messing with their precious Car of Tomorrow -- and they shouldn't.

Dave Rodman: But if they were trying to send a message, well, I think it was a dismal failure.

Raygan Swan: What I want to know is just how much Chad Knaus has cost Hendrick Motorsports in his career. He's working on a major three-of-a-kind.

Joe Menzer: So Rodman, you are saying they got off light -- that rather than a mallet bruise, so to speak, you wanted them to swing an ax and cut their heads off? Do they really deserve to have their heads handed to them over this? I don't think so.

Dave Rodman: Well, I guess death penalty references were way too harsh -- but I think in terms of a solid effect, it lacked it.

Joe Menzer: I disagree. These are major penalties, as were the ones to the 8. You can't wreck their entire seasons just because of one race where they ran into infractions.

Dave Rodman: They didn't run into them, they created them. They specifically and intentionally warped the rules trying to get an advantage, and that should not have been taken lightly.

Joe Menzer: And remember, they now still have to overcome losing their crew chiefs for six weeks. That's the biggest dual blow to these teams.

Penalties announced

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson were hit with severe penalties on Tuesday following their infractions at Sonoma.

• Complete story, click here
• Same penalty, different effects
• Menzer: Precedent already set
• Caraviello: To be a crew chief
• Head2Head: Repeat offenders
• Hendrick will not appeal penalties

Dave Rodman: If you want to make an impact, make it a 10-race suspension. Right up to the Chase. As it is, Jimmie Johnson might be on the verge of a breakdown -- since he said he was already freaking out about points.

Joe Menzer: Geez, this whole sport is run in a gray area about 90 percent of the time. Are you kidding me? Ten races would have been too many.

Raygan Swan: No, they don't deserve to have their heads cut off, but evidently the intent was there and we are talking about Chad Knaus. Besides, it doesn't matter if J.J. doesn't have Chad, he still wins races and still wins championships.

Joe Menzer: Well, this will be the longest stretch he hasn't had him in a while.

Raygan Swan: I agree and I think the punishment was fitting and really isn't going to hurt these competitors, they are too freaking dominant.

Dave Rodman: I don't buy them "thinking" it was a gray area, either. Either go to the R&D center or have an inspector come to the shop -- ask a specific question about what you want to do and save yourself all the trouble -- and potential penalties.

Raygan Swan: Word Roadman, you tell 'em brutha!

Joe Menzer: Let me ask you guys something: Why, back in the day was it kind of, um, cool when Junior Johnson would try to bend the rules, which he did virtually every week, and now it's considered so darn severe?

Dave Rodman: Well, the deal is, bending the rules is a NASCAR tradition. I'm not saying NASCAR is trying to add "cheating" to the list that includes "North Wilkesboro," "Rockingham," "Southern 500" and "Occoneechee Speedway," but these penalties do make you think twice.

Raygan Swan: I bet Gordon went home and played with his baby and didn't give it a second thought. 'Oh Ella, they think 100 points will faze my lead, goo goo gaa gaa!'

Joe Menzer: It's part of the fabric of the sport, to try to get around the rules a little bit. And if you get caught, well, you pay this price. This is certainly a bigger price than teams had to pay in the past.

Dave Rodman: I wish someone had asked them in the media briefing at Sonoma whose idea it was?

Raygan Swan: Chad, duh! He's the pro.

Dave Rodman: Chad and Stevie should have looked at Doug Duchardt and said, "It was him!"

Raygan Swan: I'm picking on Chad today because he's not talking about the issue and I don't think that is right.

Joe Menzer: Um, Roadman, weren't you on the road at Sonoma? Why didn't you ask the question?

Dave Rodman: It was not my story. I was in the other room doing the "web-streamed" version -- the first up on the Web, as it was happening.

Raygan Swan: People want to know what was behind the augmentation and if he's so damn innocent then explain it to us, Chad.

Joe Menzer: I say if the penalties at least are making teams think twice about trying to bend the rules in the future, then the point has been made.

Dave Rodman: Uh, wait a minute. Those guys knew they were in a gray area on the COT and they did it anyway. That's why I said they had to set an example somewhere, and 10 races would've done it.

Joe Menzer: Let's face it, though, this isn't the last time something like this is going to happen in NASCAR.

Dave Rodman: The interesting thing to see is that, in these three penalties, two of them involved first-timers, Tony Jr. and Steve -- but Chad's "history" did not seem to affect his penalty in this case.

Joe Menzer: That may be the first good point you've made today, Rodman.

Dave Rodman: Bottom line, if I had to build a better battleship I'd want him on my team.

Raygan Swan: Nope! Guys; cheating is very simple -- like men, really. There are some who don't and others do. No gray on this matter. You're either a cheater or you're not. It's black and white.

2) Juan Montoya wins at Sonoma and is rewarded with a Busch crew chief swap. Did Kurt Busch have the last word on the "impact" of Juan's win, when he said it was impressive and he didn't mind getting knocked out of the way?

Dave Rodman: Kurt said Juan reminded him of himself, at a similar stage, so he was good with it.

Raygan Swan: Oh, please.

Dave Rodman: Chip is lucky he's got the personnel in place to make the switch and, I bet, not lose a beat. Brad Parrott and Brian Pattie can win races with plow horses -- so they'll be fine. Chip did not have any of those in stock, last time I checked.

Raygan Swan: The crew chief swap is random, but I think Reed needs some intervention from Parrott, who is good at reeling things in. He's been just about everywhere in this sport and worked with the best.

Dave Rodman: Well, I don't think it exactly came out of nowhere, but they will still be effective, like I said.

Joe Menzer: Well, the Busch crew chief swap had nothing to do with his winning a Cup race on a road course.

Raygan Swan: I think Juan is strong enough now to withstand a swap and Reed needs some tough love and Parrott will give it to him.

Dave Rodman: Juan's lucky Chip has the pieces in place to keep him happy. Because he'll certainly wander a few more back roads before he consistently runs up front in either Cup or Busch.

Joe Menzer: As for Kurt Busch and his post-race comment that Juan "reminds him of himself," so he was OK with getting spun out by him? That merits a chuckle.

Dave Rodman: Well, I wasn't scanning him when it occurred, which might have been funny to hear. But not really, since he was on my fantasy team.

Joe Menzer: Let me get this straight, Rodman: you are taking this opportunity, just after the great JPM's first Cup victory, to bash him? Why?

Dave Rodman: In a nutshell, Kurt said it was hard racing and Juan was still learning some of the intricacies of Cup racing -- so he forgave him.

Raygan Swan: That guy is a straight geek of the week! He needs a tape recorder to play back the asinine things he says in interviews. Busch isn't even in the same stratosphere as Montoya.

Front-row starters end day fuming

Robby Gordon and Jamie McMurray led 78 of the 110 laps of Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350, but in the end, fumes were all they had to show for it.

• Complete story, click here

Dave Rodman: Uh, Kurt is a former Nextel Cup champion, last time I checked. And Joe, what do you consider "bashing?"

Joe Menzer: Well, there is some debate as to whether Kurt is a great driver or not. I happen to think he's pretty good. Others I know who have been around the sport longer think not so much.

Dave Rodman: You could hang around a lifetime and still be an ignoramus -- longevity in and of itself don't prove much.

Raygan Swan: Yeah, but for him to say Juan reminds him of himself -- I don't believe Kurt has won a race in how long?

Dave Rodman: Kurt was referring to Juan's aggressive nature only.

Joe Menzer: As for my definition of "bashing," you made reference to the fact that Juan's lucky Chip (meaning Ganassi, I take it) has all the pieces in place to keep him happy.

Dave Rodman: Finding the right chemical balance among your personnel is a critical building block for any team and admitting to that is a sign of maturity and comfort -- and neither intended to be bashed or needing to be.

Raygan Swan: Nor did he win the Indy 500 first time out or several F1 races and finish 15th at Eldora, it was the first damn time the guy had touched dirt.

Joe Menzer: And that you don't think Juan can run up front consistently anytime soon.

Raygan Swan: Well, that's crap.

Dave Rodman: He himself has said that.

Joe Menzer: Granted, he's got lots to learn on the ovals. But I think this could be a boost of overall confidence that helps him on the ovals. He is extremely talented; he will eventually get it on the ovals.

Dave Rodman: On another JPM note, anyone who says he "lucked into" that win or didn't deserve it because he won on mileage, well, look at the comment I just made about longevity and ignorance.

Raygan Swan: I agree and look where JPM started in the field that day.

Dave Rodman: If Juan and Jamie McMurray were on the same fuel strategy and one made it and the other did not, I'd say the winner played the strategy better and should be lauded, not disrespected.

Raygan Swan: Don't worry about JPM, he'll win on an oval. Parrott was quoted once saying he'd be a Cup champion in two years.

Joe Menzer: Dave, again, you finally come up with a good point. Juan simply did a better job of babying his machine to the finish, and that's great driving -- nothing more, nothing less.

Raygan Swan: I agree, Dave. Passing was difficult out there driving that big ol' bread box. He worked through the field, conserved fuel and did what needed to be done.

Dave Rodman: Well, if you watched him and McMurray going at it -- there was no babying about it. Those cats were flat getting it. Unless Juan was able to push that hard and look that smooth doing it.

3) Why is fuel mileage racing perceived as being so bad?

Raygan Swan: I don't know? Why is it so bad in my car sometimes? I drive too fast.

Joe Menzer: I'm glad we're asking this question. I flat-out don't understand why folks don't like fuel-mileage races. I love 'em. There is so much intrigue at the end, it's great.

Raygan Swan: I love it, too. Poor Jamie McMurray had to be heartbroken to be in second and then run out of gas. Seriously, how the hell does it happen?

Dave Rodman: At the end of the race at Infineon, I had no idea who was on what strategy and who was gonna go where. But to your point, Joe -- it's fascinating, dramatic stuff -- and on TNT, no less.

Raygan Swan: Well scratch that. I ran out of gas once driving to Terre Haute on I-70.

Dave Rodman: Raygs, if it makes you feel any better, two weeks ago I ran out of fuel as I turned into a gas station. Take that, Jamie.

Joe Menzer: I hope someone stopped to help you on I-70, Raygs.

Raygan Swan: Yeah -- I called the police and they came and drove me to a gas station. So Jamie, I feel your pain because I missed a Copy Editing final!

Joe Menzer: It always cracks me up at the end of a fuel-mileage race, when those who didn't play it right complain about how "the fastest car didn't win" and so-and-so finished high because he was lucky. That's called sour grapes, guys.

Raygan Swan: Speaking of sour grapes, screw Robby Gordon.

Joe Menzer: Nice. I'm starting to feel better about my ability to play the fuel-mileage game in my 1998 Dodge Caravan, no matter what strange noises or lights are emanating from it these days.

Dave Rodman: Well, I feel for Robby; because he's digging like a Terrier as a single-car team and he's making something happen. But I feel for him because he did have a great car at Infineon.

Raygan Swan: I remember those, Joe. Ours was maroon.

Dave Rodman: It was nice to hear Kevin Harvick give Robby great props for elevating RCR's road course program. In fact, Kevin credited R.G. with being a big factor in his win at The Glen last summer. And there's no question Happy is on that elevated Nextel Cup road course plateau with the Gordons, Stewart and Busch.

Joe Menzer: I respect what Robby Gordon is doing -- and what he did at Infineon. But his comments afterward were classless.

Dave Rodman: I'm not sure if engine rental teams are allowed to either tune engines or to have much say in what's done to them -- but for Robby to complain about his lack of mileage versus anyone else, means he just needed to get better mileage or work a better strategy.

Raygan Swan: I understand, Dave but damn -- just because you had two sucky races at Sonoma in a row don't blame the new kid. JPM was picked to win just as much as R. Gordon and he doesn't like that.

Joe Menzer: I also respect what Raygan did to get out of a tough situation on I-70 back in the day, and what you did, Dave, to coax your car into the gas station on fumes.

Dave Rodman: Careful Joe -- I had a reader tell me after I wrote that McMurray and Gordon were fuming after Infineon that gas creates vapors, not fumes. I guess you flunked fifth grade science, too.

Joe Menzer: Getting back to the question, it kind of ticked me off all the e-mails I got after the Coca-Cola 600, which was a great race this year, saying Casey Mears didn't deserve to win it because he won it on fuel mileage.

Dave Rodman: Joe, you give me too damned much credit. I was heading to the station that I knew was the most economical -- just so happens it is right at a lousy intersection and traffic just fell that I was gonna be able to roll right in -- and as I turned-in, the car shut off.

Joe Menzer: That fuel-mileage criticism was ridiculous. Of course, Mears deserved to win the 600, just as Dave deserves props for making it to the gas station without running out. And I don't give out props to Rodman easily [see earlier text, please].

Dave Rodman: What's y'all's call on who's going to deserve it at New Hampshire?

Raygan Swan: A win is a win, no matter how you get it. Well, unless you're Brian Vickers and take out the pending champion and the sport's most popular driver in one hit. That wasn't a legit win in my book.

Dave Rodman: Yikes! Let's save that topic for another day.

Raygan Swan: Stewart at New Hampshire.

Dave Rodman: You know what? How about Little Martin? He loves NHIS, the crew will be smilin' after clambaking it -- so a win for the 1?

Joe Menzer: Man, I'm not ready to make my pick yet. I need another 48 hours! Or at least 24 -- you know, to analyze it and, well, stuff like that.

Dave Rodman: Make a pick, darn it -- there's no Pick 'em points riding on this.

Raygan Swan: No points? Kurt Busch. Hah!

Joe Menzer: I won't make a pick now and then change it for Pick 'em. Not my style; and I haven't even looked at anything yet.

Dave Rodman: I hate to tell you, Joe -- Duane is still killing us in Pick 'em.

The opinions expressed are those solely of the writers