83 crew chief, car chief suspended indefinitely

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to the No. 83 Red Bull Racing Team in the Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rules infractions found on Tuesday during a Martinsville post-race inspection at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C.

Kevin Hamlin and Brian Vickers

The car was found to be in violation of Sections 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-Q (car, car parts, components and/or equipment used do not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-2.1-D (exterior sheet metal body parts did not meet the specified minimum thickness) of the 2008 NASCAR rule book.

As a result, both the crew chief, Kevin Hamlin, and the car chief, Craig Smokstad, have been suspended indefinitely from NASCAR. Additionally, Hamlin has been fined $100,000.

The No. 83 Toyota was randomly selected for additional inspection after Vickers finished 11th in Sunday's Tums QuikPak 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

NASCAR officials found that the sheet metal used to construct the side structures of the car (doors and quarter panels) did not meet minimum thickness requirements. According to the Sprint Cup Series rule book, car bodies must be constructed from 24-gauge (.025-inch thick) sheet steel. Acid dipping or chemical milling to reduce the thickness of the sheet metal is specifically prohibited.

Garage sources told the Sporting News Wire Service that using sheet metal that fell below minimum tolerances could reduce the weight of a car by as much as 50-75 pounds. Conceivably, the lost weight could be re-added to the bottom of the car in the form of lead weights to lower the center of gravity -- something that could enhance the car's ability to turn through the corner.

Driver Brian Vickers and owner Dietrich Mateschitz have been penalized with the loss of 150 driver and 150 owner points, respectively.

"As a team we accept full responsibility for the infractions regarding the No. 83's Martinsville car and will not appeal NASCAR's ruling," Red Bull general manager and VP Jay Frye said. "This approach to racing is against the values of the Red Bull Racing Team, and the necessary steps will be taken to rectify the situation ensuring it does not happen again. It is a privilege to race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we are taking this penalty seriously."

Red Bull R&D manager Randy Cox will assume the duties of interim crew chief at Atlanta, Frye added.

NASCAR Today
• Audio: Red Bull's 83 team faces stiff penalties

Sporting News Wire Service contributed to this report.