Avondale, AZ (Sports Network) - Chad Knaus, the crew chief for Jimmie
Johnson's No. 48 Chevrolet, said on Friday he was "deeply saddened" by
NASCAR's penalty assessed to him for rules infractions that occurred at
Daytona International Speedway last month.
Two days after NASCAR handed him a six-race suspension and a $100,000 fine,
Knaus publicly commented on the penalty he and his No. 48 Hendrick
Motorsports team received for an illegal part found on Johnson's car during
the February 17 opening-day inspection for the Daytona 500.
During inspection, NASCAR officials found the C-post on Johnson's car to be
illegal. A C-post is the panel that connects the rear of the car's roof to the
top of the rear quarter panel or deck lid area. The part was confiscated and
then sent to NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, North
Carolina for further evaluation.
NASCAR said at the time of the incident it planned on issuing any penalties it
deemed necessary to Johnson's team after Speedweeks had concluded at Daytona.
Johnson and car owner Jeff Gordon were penalized with a loss of 25 driver and
owner points. Car chief Ron Malec also received a six-race suspension.
"We didn't expect this," Knaus said. "It's not the way that we wanted to start
off the season. It is good to have the support of everybody at Hendrick
Motorsports. We will go after this thing, hopefully get it resolved and beaten
and go back to business. Right now, we are focused on getting through Phoenix
and trying to win this championship this year."
Since Hendrick Motorsports is appealing the penalty, Knaus and Malec are
allowed to participate in this weekend's Sprint Cup Series race activities at
Phoenix International Raceway. The race is scheduled for Sunday. NASCAR has
yet to announce a date for the appeal.
"We are very fortunate to have this ability to go through the appeal process,"
Knaus added. "That is something NASCAR put in place a long time ago. I'm glad
that they do. It's unfortunate that teams have to take advantage of the appeal
process from time to time, but it is good that it is there. We have seen
something's changed, reversed, minimized and some maximized at different
times. Hopefully, we will get it going in our favor."
Johnson is minus-23 in points as of now. He earned just two points for
finishing 42nd in last Monday night's rain-delayed Daytona 500. Johnson was
one of six drivers involved in a crash after the completion of the first lap.
He is 70 markers behind Daytona 500 winner and current points leader Matt
Kenseth. With 25 races remaining to qualify for this year's Chase for the
Sprint Cup championship, Knaus is not concerned with how much of a hole the
No. 48 team is in right now
"We somehow or another seem to get through adversity pretty well," he said.
"I'm not saying we like a challenge like this, but I'm pretty sure we will
rise to the occasion."
Knaus is also not worried about this penalty tarnishing his reputation.
"Honestly, I'm here to do the best I can No. 48 team, and that is all that
really matters to me," he noted. "As far as my reputation goes, I'm not too
concerned about that. What we want to do is go out there and do the best thing
we can for Hendrick Motorsports, the best thing for [team sponsor] Lowe's and
try to win races and championships."
Knaus has been suspended from NASCAR competition multiple times in the past,
particularly for violations that occurred in February 2006 at Daytona and June
2007 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA.
The Sports Network