From:
http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/head...ies/index.html
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked 100 points Tuesday, and his crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., was fined $100,000 and suspended for six races for an illegal part at Darlington Raceway.
The penalty is a significant setback in his team's bid to win a Cup title before racing's most popular driver leaves after the season.
Dale Earnhardt Inc. will appeal, team president Max Siegel said.
"We are not disputing the ruling," Siegel said. "But we are appealing the severity of the penalty because the penalty itself is not spelled out in the rule book."
According to NASCAR, the No. 8 team was found to have violated 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 20-3.1.3B (the NASCAR-approved upper and lower rear wing mounting brackets must not be modified to obtain a rear-wing angle of less than zero degrees or more than 16 degrees) of the 2007 NASCAR rule book. ...
NASCAR inspectors said Earnhardt's rear wing was improperly mounted when it was checked Saturday at Darlington. The brackets used to mount the piece were confiscated.
The infraction was the first on the NASCAR-designed Car of Tomorrow, which has strict templates that leave little wiggle room for a crew chief. The severity of the penalty was likely NASCAR's way of informing teams it will not permit any alterations to the COT.
Eury has never had a major infraction during his seven years as a Cup crew chief.
I think NASCAR has gone WAAAAAY too far with the suspension!
First infraction = take the money and give it to a Charity ...
Second Goof-Up = give the guy some time off.
SIXraces off for a first time minor technical foul = not fair to anyone!
NOTE: The now "illegal" brackets WERE used on a test car ... I doubt this
was a case of intentional cheating.
/s/Phred
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Originally Posted by RICHARD
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