Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on March 15, 2006.
In a startling development, driver Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports have petitioned Nascar to extend crew chief Chad Knaus's four race suspension.
"We have won two of the last three races and finished second in the other race, all while Chad has been at home. This team has really pulled together, and we're afraid that it will just be a big letdown when he comes back," commented Johnson.
Added owner Rick Hendrick, "The team does well with Chad using text messages, instant messenger, and phones. The inevitable power struggle between Chad and Darian (Grubb), the interim crew chief, can be avoided if Chad stays home."
"Chad and the whole team really want to win the Championship this year" Remarked Johnson, "But as well as we have been doing, I mean, there really isn't anywhere to go but down. I don't want to be the Mark Martin of my generation. I want to win the Championship this year and back to back Daytona 500s. Chad is 100% behind this."
The petition alleges that Nascar was too soft in only issuing a four race suspension and not docking the team any points. The petition cites complaints from competitors, sponsors and fans and claims that "Nascar's soft penalty gave the appearance of preferential treatment which is detrimental to the overall sport." Johnson and Hendrick ask that Knaus's penalty be extended through the 2007 Daytona 500. "Such a penalty will send a clear message that there are no favorites in Nascar Nextel Cup racing, and will give other crew chiefs pause when considering bending the rules," according to the petition.
Hendrick explained the reasoning behind asking for the additional penalty, "We've heard the complaints from the fans, sponsors, and competitors. Lowe's is particularly concerned that there has been a backlash from customers refusing to use their #48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet Monte Carlo credit cards due to the soft penalty. That translates into thousands of dollars in interest revenue gone everyday. And despite Tony Stewart's ontrack antics, nascar fans are boycotting Lowe's and shopping at Home Depot instead." Both Hendrick and Johnson believe the additional penalty will clear the air, motivate the team, and put those dollars back into Lowe's pocket.
Apparently the suspension has not been too grueling for Knaus. While serving his suspension, he has been spotted on both Hendrick's and Jeff Gordon's yachts as well as skiing in Colorado. He could not be reached for comment, but his voice mail message indicated that he was learning "all about" traction control at the F1 race in Bahrain last weekend.
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