NASCAR officials handed down heavy penalties to the Penske Racing teams of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano on Wednesday.
The cars of defending Sprint Cup Series champion Keselowski and teammate Logano failed prerace inspection Saturday because of issues with the suspension systems. The teams were forced to make changes to the rear of their cars shortly before the race at Texas Motor Speedway.
The penalties to Keselowski's team are:
• Crew chief Paul Wolfe has been fined $100,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six Cup points races (and including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• Car chief Jerry Kelley, team engineer Brian Wilson and team manager Travis Geisler (serves as team manager for both the No. 2 and No. 22 cars) have been suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six Cup points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• The loss of 25 championship points for both Keselowski and team owner Roger Penske.
The penalties for Logano's team are:
• Crew chief Todd Gordon has been fined $100,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• Car chief Raymond Fox and team engineer Samuel Stanley have been suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six Cup races (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.
• Logano and Walt Czarnecki, who is the listed owner of that Penske team, have been penalized 25 driver and owner championship points.
The two Penske cars were found in violation of the rule covering that "all suspension systems and components must be approved by NASCAR. Prior to being used in competition, all suspension systems and components must be submitted, in a completed form/assembly, to the office of the NASCAR Competition Administrator for consideration of approval and approved by NASCAR. Each such part may thereafter be used until NASCAR determines that such part is no longer eligible. All suspension fasteners and mounting hardware must be made of solid magnetic steel. All front end and rear end suspension mounts with mounting hardware assembled must have single round mounting holes that are the correct size for the fastener being used. All front end and rear end suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension component beyond normal rotation or suspension travel."
Martin Truex Jr.'s team was also penalized after failing postrace inspection under the rule that covers "the car failed to meet the minimum front car heights during post-race inspection" in the 2013 rule book.
Crew chief Chad Johnston has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 5. The team has also been docked driver and owner (Michael Waltrip) championship points.
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