Knaus ejected from Daytona after DQ
February 13, 2006Jimmie Johnson's crew chief was thrown out of the Daytona 500 on Monday for illegal modifications made to Johnson's car during qualifying. Chad Knaus was accused of raising the rear window on the No. 48 Chevrolet to alter aerodynamics during Johnson's run Sunday. The infraction was discovered in a post-qualifying inspection when the car failed to fit NASCAR templates. NASCAR said Knaus cannot appeal the ejection.
NASCAR hits a few bumps before season opener
February 13, 2006Chad Knaus will probably watch the Daytona 500 on television at home. If Tony Stewart really wants to take a stand, he'd join him. The season is barely a day old and NASCAR already has two major issues to work though. The sanctioning body acted quickly on the first one, suspending Knaus on Monday from the biggest race of the year because the crew chief made an illegal alteration to Jimmie Johnson's car before his qualifying attempt.
Top 10 preview: Without doubt, Gordon will win early and often
February 13, 2006Ryan McGee says "Doubting Jeff" dashed his own championship chances in 2005. But with a new attitude, Gordon can build on his front-row start in the Daytona 500 toward a fifth title.
Strange, wild day at Daytona
February 13, 2006Disqualifications and complaints about safety issues overshadowed the racing on the first real day of action of the new NASCAR season. Jeff Burton gave Richard Childress Racing the Daytona 500 pole and some added hope for a turnaround of fortunes this year, while rookie Denny Hamlin surprised the field in the Budweiser Shootout exhibition race Sunday.
'We're gonna kill somebody'
February 13, 2006Tony Stewart's impassioned pleas to the media and NASCAR could result in car modifications, not driver penalties.
Mosley pressures rebels to commit
February 13, 2006Motorsport chief Max Mosley intends to ask rebel Formula One teams to commit to the sport as early as next month.
"I'd love to see a full Grand Prix at Rockingham but I doubt the FIA would ever allow it" - HB
February 13, 2006Have your say about motorsport on the Five Live message board.
Hamlin Q&A
February 13, 2006Budweiser Shootout winner Denny Hamlin tells Steve Byrnes his early success "spoiled" his team to continue to exceed his expectations.
When you play in the gray, you're gonna pay
February 13, 2006Darrell Waltrip says it's a good thing Monday is a Nextel Cup off day because NASCAR needs to sort out the inspection infractions and driver reactions from Sunday's qualifying and Budweiser Shootout.
Johnson, Terry Labonte disqualified after failing inspection
February 13, 2006Jimmie Johnson and Terry Labonte had their Daytona 500 qualifying runs thrown out Sunday after their cars failed inspection. NASCAR officials said someone illegally altered the rear window on Johnson's Chevrolet after it passed through pre-qualifying inspection. The infraction was discovered when the car was presented after its qualifying run for a second inspection. Labonte's car was found to have illegal modifications to the carburetor.
Stewart rips NASCAR for 'dangerous' racing
February 13, 2006Defending Nextel Cup series champion Tony Stewart criticized superspeedway racing following his third-place finish in the Budweiser Shootout on Sunday, saying "we're going to hurt somebody really, really bad." Stewart said "bump drafting" was out of control, with drivers slamming into competitors heading into turns, running through them and coming out of them. "We're sitting here watching TV before we came down here and they're talking about the tribute to Dale Earnhardt," Stewart said.
Edwards frustrated by NASCAR penalties
February 13, 2006Carl Edwards was furious with NASCAR officials after being penalized three times in the Budweiser Shootout exhibition race on Sunday. Edwards was flagged twice for driving below the yellow line and once for speeding as he entered pit road. He finished 16th and a lap down in the 21-car field. He was most infuriated after the second yellow-line penalty and initially refused to drive through the pits for his punishment. "That's the most ignorant call," Edwards said.
Shootout results
February 13, 2006
PHOTOS
February 13, 2006
Burton will be on pole for first time since 2000
February 13, 2006Jeff Burton picked a great time to grab his first NASCAR pole in more than five years. Burton outran 57 other competitors Sunday to earn the top starting spot for the Feb. 19 Daytona 500, his third career pole and first since fall 2000 in Richmond, Va. Burton's fast lap of 189.151 mph on a chilly day at Daytona International Speedway was the fastest qualifying run on the 2.5-mile, high-banked oval since Dale Jarrett's 191.091 in February 2000.