When was this found????

[yatesracing]

Wow and the season hasn't even started---No Worry Chevy will keep tryin. THAT'S THEIR STYLE

C-post of the No. 48 car confiscated by NASCAR officials for unapproved modifications. Team allowed to fix. NASCAR will address any further actions coming out of Daytona 500.

NASCAR : #DAYTONA500 opening day inspection issue with C-posts #48 car - modification to area that is not permitted. #NASCAR confiscated C-posts... 33 minutes ago

[DeeDee]

[ARTICLE=Parts confiscates parts from #48 car:] Crew chief Chad Knaus and other members of five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson's Daytona 500 team face possible suspensions after NASCAR said it found modifications on the rear quarter panel of Johnson's #48 Chevy. The C-posts -- pillars that come down from the roof to the quarter panel -- were confiscated by NASCAR on Friday after going through an initial inspection for the 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said the changes were a major violation of NASCAR's policy banning alterations to the series' template. "Suspensions are not out of the realm of possibility," Darby said. But Darby also said that it's unlikely team members will be banned from the race, because the apparent violation was found so early. "The team will be allowed to fix the car,'' Darby said. Darby said penalties could come as early as next week, but NASCAR spokesperson Kerry Tharp said sanctions are unlikely until after the February 26 race. Team officials said Knaus was not available for comment.
"A helluva way to start the 2012 season,'' said Ken Howes, Hendrick Motorsports' vice president for competition. "Obviously, it failed inspection. NASCAR directed us on how they wanted it fixed, and we're doing that. We'll put it back together and run it through inspection again.'' Howes said he expects the rebuilt car will be ready for practice on Saturday and qualifying on Sunday. Asked if this was an intentional attempt by the #48 team to bend the rules, Howes said, "That's a difficult way to put it. You work within the templates the best way you think. Obviously, you're trying to do a better job than the next guy. NASCAR said it wasn't right, so it's not right. We don't have an argument with that.'' Howes said manipulating the C-post creates an aerodynamic advantage, and that individual teams are allowed to work in that area. The other three Hendrick Motorsports cars did not fail inspection.(ESPN)(2-17-2012)[/ARTICLE]

[TeamBlueOval]

Wow! They never learn, do they?!? Bet Chad gets a nice, 4 to 6 week "vacation" from NASCAR for this one.

[DeeDee]

Nah, Chad likes testing the limits. Seems like it give him the edge on how far he can push things. Hopefully he'll gete some vacation time.

[Ford Dude]

Nah, Chad likes testing the limits. Seems like it give him the edge on how far he can push things. Hopefully he'll gete some vacation time.

Hopefully they get a "preseason points reduction" too!

[Mr.Right]

Hopefully they get a "preseason points reduction" too!

THAT would be awesome....I wouldn't bet on it, though.

[DeeDee]

[ARTICLE=Another Chad Knaus violation surprises NASCAR President Mike Helton, penalties likely]By Bob Pockrass/SceneDaily | Saturday, February 18, 2012 11:45 AM EST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR President Mike Helton said Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Chad Knaus likely will be penalized for the illegal C-posts found on Jimmie Johnson’s Daytona 500 car Friday but stopped short of saying Knaus’ previous history would be considered when determining the penalty.

Johnson’s car failed pre-practice inspection at Daytona International Speedway Friday and NASCAR confiscated the C-posts because they had been modified outside of NASCAR specifications. The team replaced the C-posts and practiced the car Saturday as scheduled.

Helton said there is a “high likelihood” of Knaus being penalized.

“It fits in the category of prerace inspection issues that we’ve had in the past,” Helton said Saturday morning. “It will warrant a reaction from us more so than what you’ve seen already, … more than what we’ve done so far.”

NASCAR has suspended Knaus twice. He was suspended after Daytona 500 qualifying in 2006 and ejected for the remainder of Speedweeks. He was suspended again in 2007 for a body violation found during opening-day inspection at Infineon Raceway. Knaus remained at the track for the race at Infineon but then faced a six-week suspension.

Last year, altered windshields cost Michael Waltrip Racing drivers 25 points and the crew chiefs were suspended for four weeks and fined $50,000.

Would Knaus’ previous history be taken into consideration when penalties are imposed?

“It certainly makes you scratch your head,” Helton said. “What we’ve learned over time is to, in the heat of the battle, try to accomplish what we immediately are after, which is to get all the cars inspected and get them on the race track and then sit back and kind of digest it all.

“But you do kind of scratch your head on a name that reoccurs.”

Knaus had avoided suspension since 2007 but found himself back in the NASCAR doghouse last year when he told Johnson at Talladega to “crack” the back of the car against the wall if he won the race in case it was too low during postrace inspection.

NASCAR talked to Knaus after the incident and inspected Johnson’s cars after several races following the remark.

Helton said the incident last year had no bearing on the scrutiny given Johnson’s car Friday.

“Our level of scrutiny is high on everybody every time, so there’s no way to get my scrutiny,” Helton said.

Having a technical issue on the first day of inspection was disappointing for Helton.

“Anytime that we see something that doesn’t fit, I think we’re a bit disappointed,” Helton said. “But that’s our job. That’s what the inspection process is all about, is to find the things that would unbalance the playing field among everybody.

“It’s not emotional as much as it is routine.”[/ARTICLE]

[yatesracing]

Hendrick comments: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said before Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout that the car is the same one that Johnson ran in all four restrictor plate races last season, including the Daytona 500, and the roof had not been altered. He added that the car went to NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., for inspection and was returned without any notification of being outside the lines. "That car, we've run it four times,'' Hendrick said. "It was built for this place and they never touched the roof, and it's been to the Tech Center after they won Talladega (in the spring). All that's been done is paint it, so I don't get it.'' Hendrick acknowledged that this is the same car Knaus was caught on film prior to the October Talladega race telling Johnson to damage the rear end if he won. Johnson's car was taken back to the R&D center after that race and the remaining races in 2011.(ESPN)(2-19-2012)

[Michael Bachman]

I say suspend him Knaus for half the season and park the #48 for the second and third races of the season.

[mattemmy99]

Sounds like no suspension .....glad it wasn't RFR!

[Dog]

Michael: As much as I dislike Knaus and the 48, that is overboard. Realistically: 10 weeks vacation, no races suspension of the 48, and 25-50 points. Closer to 50.

Michelle: I don't think you read the same article that I did. Helton said this,

“It will warrant a reaction from us more so than what you’ve seen already, … more than what we’ve done so far.”

It's about time they crack down on the 48. Last year Knaus's arm was twisted to play by the rules after 'Dega. Coincidentally, Jimmie had the worst points finish of his career........ Or was it? lol But I will say this article is sure making Helton look like the bad guy in comparision to reality. NASCAR has fined Knaus and the 48 many more times than twice. Probably has amoung the highest penalty per race ratio of all time during his first 5 or so years in NASCAR. Rarely big enough to suspend Knaus until recent years.