NASCAR confiscates splitters from Penske cars (Update)
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| Logano and Keselowski |
Team Penske drivers #2-Brad Keselowski and #22-Joey Logano will not be penalized for the splitters NASCAR took from the cars before the Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Michigan.
NASCAR officials felt the splitters were so close to being non-compliant that they had the Penske teams replace the splitter in order to lessen the likelihood of the splitters being out of compliance following the race. They also impounded the splitters to take a closer look at them this week, and NASCAR determined there were no issues. A splitter affects the amount of front downforce for the car. ESPN
08/16/15 Both Team Penske cars had issues getting through NASCAR technical inspection prior to Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
Joey Logano's #22 car was the first of the two Penske cars to roll through tech, with NASCAR taking issue with the thickness of the front splitter. When Brad Keselowski's #2 car went through tech, it had the same issue. NASCAR required the crews of both cars to remove the original splitters and install new ones before going back through the inspection line.
A NASCAR official confiscated both splitters, taking them back to the NASCAR hauler in the garage. Todd Gordon told FOXSports.com NASCAR just did not like what they saw with the splitter, saying it was "no big deal."
NASCAR allows teams to smooth out the splitter prior to the race, but issues arise when teams begin manipulating the edges and thickness of the splitter.
NASCAR spokesperson Kristi King addressed the issue on Sunday, saying the splitters on both cars were so close in tolerance the sanctioning body asked the team to err on the side of caution and change the splitters. Despite the issue, neither Penske team lost their starting positions for Sunday's race at Michigan, and if any penalties or fines result from the issue they will likely be announced early next week. Fox Sports