Penske glad for appeals
Keselowski says the penalties are “definitely a challenge ... [but] the strong will survive.”
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Brad Keselowski spent some time in the garage talking to crew chief Paul Wolfe, then walked over to his No. 2 Ford and hopped in for practice on a brisk, breezy day at Kansas Speedway.
Everything appeared to be normal in the world of Penske Racing, even if that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Defending Sprint Cup champion Keselowski and teammate Joey Logano arrived at this weekend’s race site with their full crews while Penske Racing appeals heavy penalties levied by NASCAR for bringing unapproved parts to Texas.
Wolfe and Logano crew chief Todd Gordon were each fined $ 100,000 and suspended, along with five others in the Penske organization, for six championship points races after NASCAR inspectors found an unapproved rear- end housing on the Nos. 2 and 22 cars before last weekend’s race.
The crews are allowed at the track until the appeal is heard.
“I think it’s definitely a challenge for us, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” Keselowski said Friday. “It’s an opportunity to show how strong a team Penske Racing can be. I think there’s a lot of passion inside this group, and, you know, the strong will survive.”
Logano qualified 22nd for Sunday’s race. Keselowski will roll off 33rd.
The move by NASCAR inspectors to confiscate the questionable part just
before the NRA 500 set off a mad scramble by both teams. Logano was late to the starting grid at Texas and had to start at the back of the field, but he recovered to finish fifth. Keselowski ended up ninth.
The penalties dished out to Penske Racing hurt even more.
“I’m thankful there is a process for appeals,” Keselowski said, “because obviously we’re in an agree-todisagree stage between Penske Racing and NASCAR, and thankfully, there’s a third panel or group to settle those disagreements.”
The date for the appeal has not been set.
Richard Petty said Friday that someone in the garage area must have told NASCAR officials about the questionable parts on the Penske cars, and attention drifted to Hendrick Motorsports — an organization known for pushing the envelope in research and development.
Last season, Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 car failed the opening- day inspection at the Daytona 500. Five-time winning crew chief Chad Knaus and the car chiefs for that Hendrick car were suspended for six races, but the bulk of the penalties were later overturned by NASCAR’s chief appellate officer, the highest level of appeal.
Those penalties, which included a $100,000 fine for Knaus, came as a result of issues NASCAR found with the posts that connect the roof to the top of the rear quarter panel and deck lid.