Penalized crew chiefs issue apologies for actions at Michigan

UPDATE “I hate it for Joe Gibbs and J.D. Gibbs that they were put in that situation by their team," NASCAR's Robin Pemberton said prior to the Craftsman Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. “We take everything pretty serious. When we’re trying to do a post race inspection and evaluate things that have implications long term, we really feel like we need to get everybody to give us a fair shot at that."

NASCAR this year has often suspended at least two individuals per team for a major rules violations.

“Crew chiefs and car chiefs are responsible," Pemberton said. “You’ve seen our penalties escalate through the last year or more with taking more than one person out. In this particular case, crew chiefs and car chiefs [were suspended] and we feel because of the situation relative to engines, we felt like the engine tuner probably had something to do with it.

“And also the seventh man [suspended] was a mechanic identified as someone who did it."

Pemberton would not say if NASCAR discussed parking the team for any races and would not elaborate on the length of the suspension.

“It just gives us a flexibility on the time, how long it needs to be," Pemberton said.

Joe Gibbs Racing won’t appeal the suspensions. The horsepower testing occurred less than a month after NASCAR implemented rules to cut down the Toyota engines by about 15 horsepower. It was the first test under the new rules.

“When we do these tests, whether it be dyno tests – there was a time when we went to the wind tunnel quite a bit – and other things that we do to evaluate the competition in the garage area, we take that very, very serious," Pemberton said. “I can’t tell you how serious we take it. It’s serious because we’re trying to give everybody a fair chance."

NASCAR still has the two engines involved. The fines were lower than in Sprint Cup because it was the Nationwide Series, Pemberton said.

08/20/08 Joe Gibbs Racing crew chiefs Jason Ratcliff and Dave Rogers have apologized for their Nationwide Series teams’ actions Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.

Both crew chiefs were among seven JGR employees indefinitely suspended by NASCAR for their cars found to have magnetic spacers underneath the gas pedal during chassis dynamometer testing following the race Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. The intent was to keep the engines from providing maximum horsepower. NASCAR uses those horsepower numbers to help determine whether to make rule changes for competitive balance.

The team issued a statement from the crew chiefs Wednesday evening.

“I apologize with great remorse for the actions that I took after the Michigan race last Saturday afternoon," said Rogers, whose No. 20 team still leads the owner points standings by 168 despite a 150-point penalty as part of the NASCAR sanctions. “My apology is extended to NASCAR, the NASCAR officials, Joe and J.D. Gibbs, our drivers, all of JGR’s sponsors, and especially to all of the JGR family members that I have misrepresented.

“Joe and J.D. Gibbs trust me to lead this race team with honesty and integrity. I have failed them and feel great remorse for doing so. I accept the penalties imposed by NASCAR and Joe Gibbs Racing and make no excuses."

The JGR teams have combined for 14 wins this year.

“First and foremost, I would like to apologize to the employees and partners of Joe Gibbs Racing," Ratcliff said in his statement. “Because of poor decision making, I have failed you as the leader of this team and I am solely responsible for this situation.

“Secondly, I apologize to the men and women of NASCAR for my dishonesty and interference during a testing event. Going forward, I will work hard to regain the trust and respect that I once had with the fans, NASCAR and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, including our drivers, who had no knowledge or involvement in this transgression."