NASCAR docked driver Brian Vickers 150 points, car owner Dietrich Mateschitz 150 car owner points, suspended crew chief Kevin Hamlin and car chief Craig Smokstad indefinitely and fined Hamlin $100,000 for violations found after Sunday’s race at Martinsville.
Vickers finished 11th in the race and was the random for post-race inspection—typically the top five cars and a random are inspected after an event.
The penalties are among the most severe in NASCAR. Part of that is because of an escalation of penalties to keep teams from playing with the new car.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the sides of the car — the doors, fenders and quarter panels — were too thin. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rule book states that teams must use a minimum of 24 gauge (0.025 inch thick) sheet steel for their car bodies. Also, the practice of “acid dipping or chemical milling,” which makes the sheet metal thinner, is strictly forbidden.
One individual close to the situation said acid dipping would allow a fabricator to make the metal thinner. Once the steel is sanded and painted, it is nearly impossible for NASCAR to detect.
The four feet by 12 feet sheets teams use to mold onto the sides of the cars weigh approximately six pounds. It’s likely that as little as three pounds per side and as much as 75 pounds could have been shaved off the entire car as a result.
Although the use of thinner sheet metal may sound inconsequential, this practice allows teams to strategically move the weight to lower the car’s center of gravity and ease the car’s steering — a benefit at most tracks where handling is key. One NASCAR official added that thinner sheet metal could also affect the overall safety of the car.
Red Bull Racing general manager Jay Frye said the team accepted responsibility and would not appeal the penalties.
There are just four races left in the season, and typical crew chief suspensions have been for six weeks. It was not clear if Hamlin and Smokstad’s suspensions will carry over into 2009 and the season-opening Daytona 500.
Vickers is tied for a career-best 15th in the standings, but the penalty drops him to 17th.
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