Doing Good Does No Good

Let's just start out from where I'm coming from:

Jimmy Watts, the crew member for the No. 47 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series who went tire chasing across the infield last Sunday, has been suspended from the next four Cup races, or until April 22.  (Which ever comes first!  I really hope you know that's a joke.)

Obviously it's for rule violations during last Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway as he violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing*) and 9-15-U (crew members must not go on the race track for any reason while the cars are racing or while the cars are running under the yellow flag or the red flag, unless otherwise directed to do so by a NASCAR official). Watts has also been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.
*It only would have been detrimental to Jimmy if he got hit!

Here's the sucker punch:  His crew chief, Frank Kerr, has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Sections 12-1 and 9-4-A (crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of the team).

Dang!

So I get (I'm presuming here) where Jimmy was coming from.  He was truly worried about the tire causing issues.  Maybe he was having flashbacks to many many years ago when a flying tire killed someone at Indianapolis Speedway.  There have been more instances than I care to ponder, from flying tires.

1987:  A loose wheel was hit and flew into the stands of the Indianapolis Speedway, killing Lyle G. Kurtenbach, who was sitting in the top row of grandstand K.  I remember that one... and it was not pretty because the tire continued it's flight behind the stands.
1998:  3 dead at the U.S. 500
1999:  3 dead at the Visionaire 500

So in retrospect, maybe Watts should have been given a warning instead.  More than likely, nothing would have happened, and then again, maybe he was thinking if he went and got the tire, no penalty would be brought forth because of it.  Hard to say, but ouch.

No good deed goes unpunished people.

Next time, yell out a heads up, and duck Jimmy!