Denny Hamlin was leading the Pep Boys Auto 500 with three laps to go when his car stalled while taking the green flag after a caution period. Martin Truex, who led the most laps Sunday, smashed into the back of Hamlin’s car and finished 31st. Hamlin slipped to 24th.
“There are multiple teams that are showing positive for some level of water contamination level in their fuel, ” said John Darby, NASCAR’s Nextel Cup director. “I can’t tell you the exact number. It’s more than two and less than 43 at the moment. “
Darby dismissed sabotage as a possible explanation, saying too many teams were affected for anyone to have been singled out. ErieTimesNews
While water was found in the fuel of several Nextel Cup cars that competed in Sunday’s Pep Boys Auto 500, NASCAR officials said Monday that they had no worries about this weekend’s Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Cup director John Darby ruled out deliberate tampering. Fuel supplier Sunoco said tests revealed no problem at its underground storage tanks at the track.
One theory, Darby said, is that the contamination occurred at the pumps or in the pipes leading to the pumps. Among the drivers affected was Denny Hamlin, whose car lost power at the end, contributing to a major accident. CHUCK CARLTON, The Dallas Morning News
NASCAR has a “Water-gate. “
The racing organization conceded Monday that water got into the fuel supply of more than two cars during Sunday’s Pep Boys Auto 500 Nextel Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, apparently leading to a crash that took out top contenders in the closing laps.
Denny Hamlin was leading with three laps to go when his car stalled while taking the green flag after a caution period. Martin Truex Jr., who led the most laps Sunday, smashed into the back of Hamlin’s car and finished 31st. Hamlin slipped to 24th.
Darby dismissed sabotage as a possible explanation, saying too many teams were affected by the problem.
“For those who have their evil, twisted conspiracy hats on, we want to put that to rest, ” Darby said. “If it was sabotage, it would have to be the kind of thing where someone hates NASCAR racing across the board. ” The Seattle Times
| 
|