NASCAR Issues Penalties From Sunday to Gordon, Pattie and Keselowksi???

After all was said and done, by the end of the Advocare 500 at Phoenix, I was surprised at the few number of penalties that came out of that melee known as the Advocare 500.  I get Jeff Gordon's penalty.  I get Brian Pattie's penalty...  (I heard him say s*! on TV, so this was a no brainer!)

To some lesser degree, I get Brad Keselowski's cell phone penalty.  BUT that cell phone brought a huge amount of attention to the sport back in February at Daytona.  That phone was a cash cow for the sport as the headline that went around the world about a NASCAR driver tweeting an on-track image and gaining thousands of fans from it.

Missing from this list of penalties is what many fans are crying for, and that's for Jeff Gordon to be parked for next week.  But as one argument would have it... when Kyle Busch was parked, it took repeated incidents or a pattern, that got him the sit-down.  Jeff Gordon does not have that pattern.

Below is the summary list of penalties

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via press release

NASCAR Issues Penalties From Sunday's Event

At Phoenix International Raceway

Three Teams Assessed Penalties Following Post-Race Review From NASCAR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2012) – NASCAR announced today penalties to three teams that compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rule infractions at Phoenix International Raceway.

Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 car:

Was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing*) – altercation with another competitor on the race track during the race – and has been

• fined $100,000,
• docked 25 championship driver points and
  
• put on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

*But were his actions detrimental?  It sparked a news rage that has NASCAR on every channel!

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Rick Hendrick,

Owner of the No. 24 car, has also been

• penalized with the loss of 25 championship owner points.

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Alan Gustafson,

Crew chief of the No. 24 car, also was found to be in violation of Section 9-4A (at all events, crew chief assumes responsibility of his driver, car owner and team members) and

• has been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

*As an added penalty, NASCAR should force him to crew chief for one of the Cope twins in their next race... no matter where it is!

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Brian Pattie,

crew chief of the No. 15 car, violated Sections 12-1 and 9-4A and has been

• fined $25,000 and
• placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

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Brad Keselowski,

Driver of the No. 2 car, has

• been fined $25,000 and
  
• placed on probation until Dec. 31

for violating Sections 12-1 and 20-6.7A (cars and drivers will not be permitted to carry onboard computers, automated electronic recording devices, electronically actuated devices, power distribution modules, power conditioners, micro-processors, recording devices, electronic digital memory chips, traction control devices, digital readout gauges and the like, even if inoperable or incomplete) – driver had a cell phone in his possession on board the race car.

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All of these violations occurred during the Nov. 11 event at PIR.

(Ya think!!!)

Additionally,

Statement From Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Vice President of Competition:

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2012) – “Following a thorough analysis of the actions that took place during Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway, we have issued penalties based upon our review. The decisions announced today cover NASCAR’s full assessment of penalties for the incidents that occurred.

 

“There’s no doubt that a unique set of circumstances combined with a championship battle on the line resulted in raw emotions coming into play. We consider the penalties appropriate and those involved understand our decision and we expect them to abide by them.”

   

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