In Sonoma California last week, NASCAR officials inspected Jeff Gordon’s 24 car and Jimmie Johnson’s #48 car and decide that the Hendrick Team was in violation when parts of the front fender on each car had been altered. The first punishment was assessed on Sunday at the start of the Toyota/SaveMart 350. But then yesterday came the doozy: each driver had 100 points from their Nextel standings deducted (sending Johnson from 3rd to 5th in the standing, Gordon stays at #1), each crew chief fined $100,000 and suspended from the next six Nextel Cup Series events, and each crew chief to remain on probation until Dec. 31, 2007. So the message has been sent to all teams: violation will cost you so don’t let them happen. But did NASCAR act responsibly in handing down such a stern punishment? How will it impact the two drivers and the rest of the drivers and their teams?
