Penalties for Matt Kenseth/Joe Gibbs Racing?

[ancrdave]

This from the Associated Press...

The engine in #20-Matt Kenseth's race-winning car from Kansas failed inspection at NASCAR's Research and Development Center. NASCAR officials were discussing Wednesday what penalties to levy against Kenseth and Joe Gibbs Racing, multiple people familiar with the inspection told the AP on the condition of anonymity because no decision has been made. The engine failed because one of the connecting rods not meeting the minimum weight requirement. Kenseth drove the #20 Toyota to his second win of the season Sunday in Kansas. It is standard procedure for the race winning engine to go back to Concord for a thorough inspection. The JGR engines are supplied by Toyota Racing Development out of Costa Mesa, Calif., but NASCAR would hold the team responsible for any infractions.

[bish0psaid]

Doesn't matter...

Who cares, they make millions on one Sunday race....Fine them and hire someone like Bloomquest or swindell.....

[BigBlock98]

http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup...th-engine-part


NASCAR used a heavy hand on this one.

[Matt Albee]

I wonder how big the fines are going to eventually be before the cheating in CUP stops. This case was unintentional apparently, but most aren't.

[egspeedway]

I am confused,perhaps an engine builder can explain how you balance a rotating assembly when one of the connecting rods is a different weight than the other 7 I am not a builder so if this is a silly question pardon my intrusion.

[VeaseyRacing]

I am confused,perhaps an engine builder can explain how you balance a rotating assembly when one of the connecting rods is a different weight than the other 7 I am not a builder so if this is a silly question pardon my intrusion.

Well, it was 2.5 grams off. Which means that the weight of 2 regular size paper clips was the problem. That isn't much, but I agree, it should have been caught even before it went for balancing..

When they did balance it, they would have shaved metal off the crank to compensate.

[andre]

When they did balance it, they would have shaved metal off the crank to compensate.

If they would have find it, they would have switch the rod for a heavier one. Balancing a crankshaft with 2 differents bobweights weight figures would be a funcky set up.

[Trash Inturn4]

Penalties have been handed down to the #20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team as a result of rule violations discovered in the post-race engine inspection April 23 at the NASCAR Research and Development Center. The #20 car was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-5.5.3 (E) (Only magnetic steel connecting rods with a minimum weight of 525.0 grams will be permitted; connecting rod failed to meet the minimum connecting rod weight) of the 2013 rule book. As a result of this violation, NASCAR has assessed the following penalties:
• Crew chief Jason Ratcliff has been fined $200,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (a period of time that also includes the non-points NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• Car owner Joe Gibbs has lost 50 championship car owner points; the first place finish from April 21 at Kansas Speedway will not earn bonus points toward the accumulated aggregate car owner points total after the completion of the first 26 events of the current season and will not be credited towards the eligibility for a car owner Wild Card position; has had the owner's license for the #20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car suspended until the completion of the next six championship points events, therefore being ineligible to receive championship car owner points during that period of time.
• Driver Matt Kenseth has lost 50 championship driver points; the Coors Light Pole award from April 19 at Kansas Speedway will not be allowed for eligibility into the 2014 Sprint Unlimited; the first place finish from April 21 at Kansas Speedway will not earn bonus points toward the accumulated aggregate driver points total after the completion of the first 26 events of the current season and will not be credited towards the eligibility for a driver Wild Card position.
• The loss of five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Manufacturer Championship points.
(NASCAR)(4-24-2013)

[Trash Inturn4]

JGR Responds

Joe Gibbs Racing Statement: Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is aware of the penalty issued by NASCAR today regarding the engine in our #20 car used in last week's Sprint Cup Series race in Kansas. It is our understanding that one of the eight connecting rods on the engine was ruled too light. We are working with our partners at TRD on this issue. In the meantime we will plan to appeal the penalty.(JGR)(4-24-2013)

[Winger]

TRD admits they build the engines and it was their mistake. With that being said, I agree the penalties for this seem harsh. Maybe when there is an engine problem in tech. they should penalize the engine builders. Some teams build their own so the affect would be the same.

[Dana Barlow]

If the one lite rod thing is whats at falt,it is super stupid BS on NASCAR,there is no smarts at all in calling one lite rod a cheet,total BS,one lite rod would put a motor at higher risk of blowing up and for sure not make it go faster. So we are getting BS'd or they really are super stupid.
No one would of made that misstake as a planned act. so something smells bad.
There is the facts JACK

[Jimmy McKinley]

TRD admits they build the engines and it was their mistake. With that being said, I agree the penalties for this seem harsh. Maybe when there is an engine problem in tech. they should penalize the engine builders. Some teams build their own so the affect would be the same.

The penalty is in line with the one handed down to Carl Long, who got teched at a *non-points* race (that he didn't even finish, by the way), and they found the motor was too big - by like .05 of a cubic inch. The engine measured 358.05 cubic inches.

He still hasn't paid the fine - he can't afford to. Ernie Elliott built the motor, but *he* wasn't the one penalized.

[Groundpounder]

If the one lite rod thing is whats at falt,it is super stupid BS on NASCAR,there is no smarts at all in calling one lite rod a cheet,total BS,one lite rod would put a motor at higher risk of blowing up and for sure not make it go faster. So we are getting BS'd or they really are super stupid.
No one would of made that misstake as a planned act. so something smells bad.
There is the facts JACK

Agree with you...

[Frasson118]

"The fans deserve to know who won the race when they leave the track" -Bill France Jr.

This is the statement that has screwed things up ever since. Richard Petty was caught at Charlotte with an oversized engine (by a lot, not fractions), after winning the race. NASCAR refused to take the win away from him and the effects have been spiraling ever since. The mindset in the garage area, is that as long as you get into the race without getting caught, they won't take away a win no matter WHAT you got caught cheating with later.

It's always a fine (that goes back into the DRIVERS POINT FUND), and a loss of points. But it's NEVER the public embarrassment of being caught, exposed, and sent back to 43rd spot with no purse money or points.

A little bit of public shame and the label of being a cheater, you'd find these teams towing the line. Of nothing else, the sponsors will DEMAND it from the teams they spend millions on.

[chassisdude]

Hendrick Cup (aka Nascar)

"The fans deserve to know who won the race when they leave the track" -Bill France Jr.

This is the statement that has screwed things up ever since. Richard Petty was caught at Charlotte with an oversized engine (by a lot, not fractions), after winning the race. NASCAR refused to take the win away from him and the effects have been spiraling ever since. The mindset in the garage area, is that as long as you get into the race without getting caught, they won't take away a win no matter WHAT you got caught cheating with later.

It's always a fine (that goes back into the DRIVERS POINT FUND), and a loss of points. But it's NEVER the public embarrassment of being caught, exposed, and sent back to 43rd spot with no purse money or points.

A little bit of public shame and the label of being a cheater, you'd find these teams towing the line. Of nothing else, the sponsors will DEMAND it from the teams they spend millions on.

Just another driver taken out of the chase for championship, the trophy has already got poster boy Johnsons name on it. So far they eliminated Hamlin, Brad and now Matt , watch as another driver gets close, Nascar and Hendricks will find so bull shit call and take points from them and take away the crew chief so they have no chance of beating Johnson.