Keselowski, Logano, Penske teams face potential penalties
"In pre-race inspection they felt like there was something that was a questionable item that they wanted replaced," said Travis Geisler, Penske's director of competition. "We replaced all the parts in question. They have them all. We're working through the process here as it goes to get through inspection. Unfortunately a little tighter timeline here than we'd like to be on, but I certainly understand their position and don't disagree with where they are."
The Penske vehicles were the last two vehicles in the garage area, and Keselowski's car successfully cleared the laser inspection platform as driver introductions wound down. Crewmen continued to scramble under the rear of the #22 car, which needed three passes to get though the laser platform, and passed the final stages of inspection just as the command to start engines was given. "That's what these guys do for a living, so it's not really a crisis," Geisler said of the 11th-hour changeover.
"We do those kinds of things during practice at times. Everybody's set up for it. It's obviously not expected at this point in the day, but that's racing. You have to expect the unexpected, and that's the way it goes." Having gotten the cars on track in time for the start of the race, the Penske team now faces the prospect of penalties from NASCAR. "We always have a good, open dialogue with them. They'll keep us in the loop about how they feel about what's going on there," Geisler said. "I'm sure we’ll all discuss that in the upcoming days." NASCAR.com
04/14/13 Keselowski was able to keep his 16th-place starting spot. But both teams might be in for penalties due to parts that Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president for competition, told reporters were "not in the spirit of the rule." "In pre-race inspection they felt like there was something that was a questionable item that they wanted replaced," said Travis Geisler, Penske's director of competition.
"We replaced all the parts in question. They have them all. We're working through the process here as it goes to get through inspection. Unfortunately a little tighter timeline here than we'd like to be on, but I certainly understand their position and don't disagree with where they are."
The Penske vehicles were the last two vehicles in the garage area, and Keselowski's car successfully cleared the laser inspection platform as driver introductions wound down. Crewmen continued to scramble under the rear of the #22 car, which needed three passes to get though the laser platform, and passed the final stages of inspection just as the command to start engines was given.
"That's what these guys do for a living, so it's not really a crisis," Geisler said of the 11th-hour changeover. "We do those kinds of things during practice at times. Everybody's set up for it. It's obviously not expected at this point in the day, but that's racing. You have to expect the unexpected, and that's the way it goes." Having gotten the cars on track in time for the start of the race, the Penske team now faces the prospect of penalties from NASCAR.
"We always have a good, open dialogue with them. They'll keep us in the loop about how they feel about what's going on there," Geisler said. "I'm sure we’ll all discuss that in the upcoming days." NASCAR.com
04/13/13 Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski, teammate Joey Logano and their Penske Racing teams face potential penalties as NASCAR confiscated rear-end housing parts and pieces from their cars during prerace inspection Saturday at Texas Motor Speedways.
The teams frantically worked to replace the pieces an hour prior to the scheduled start of the NRA 500. "We're taking (rear-end) housing and some other things. … It’s a group of pieces that surrounds the rear suspension area," NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said.
"It’s just something that is not in the spirit of the rules."
Pemberton said the sanctioning body would not eject the crew chiefs from the speedways and the drivers would keep their starting positions for the race Saturday night. Keselowski started 16th, but Logano, who qualified 18th, had to drop to the rear of the field at the start because his team did not get the car to the starting grid on time.
Any penalties could be announced as early as Monday, although NASCAR typically waits until Tuesday to announce penalties.
"It will be our typical deal — we’ll get together on Monday and go over everything when we get back to the R&D center (in North Carolina)," Pemberton said.
Keselowski, the defending Cup champion, is second in the series standings. Logano is 11th.
Possible penalties typically could include points penalties, fines and crew suspensions.
"They felt like there was something that was a questionable item that they wanted to see replaced before the race, so we replaced all the parts," Penske competition director Travis Geisler. "They have them all. … I certainly understand their position and don't disagree with where they are."
Geisler said he didn’t know the penalties NASCAR is considering.
"I’m not really sure," Geisler said. "We always have a good, open dialogue with them, and they'll keep us in the loop on how they feel about what's going on there. We'll all discuss that in the upcoming days."