NASCAR - Ganassi facing massive problems / Hard punishment for Gibbs

Addendum: CTS in Bristol the night on SpeedTV from 01.00 clock, starting about 02.10 clock.

- Snip -

It's no secret that there are problems in the Ganassi team and the season runs everything else as well. But that is now also a major sponsor withdraws, the matter should not be easier. Texaco will stop at the end of the season, because you want to completely pull out of NASCAR back. Such a decision does happen, but is annoying when someone like Chip Ganassi should not weigh so heavily, because after all, the success with his teams in the IRL and the GrandAm a real size in the business. This is true even if, in the NASCAR team will not always go well. But the problems seem to be lower at Ganassi.

Whether it was a good decision from the outset to build a new team of Dario Franchitti, is one thing. Summarize the problems of the Scottish Cup in the foot were probably larger than expected, which was also the fact that Dodge, despite the victory at the Daytona 500 in hard drive and came in the course of this season could really convince. Only the Evernham team led by Kasey Kahn was able to convince here and there and is the only Dodge team have the chance to win the Chase. Other spearheads are long out of Dodge. Ryan Newman is 17th, 19th Kurt Busch and Montoya is on rank 22

But the problems with Dodge are the cause, the other is the unrest in the Ganassi team. This is just the crew chief Jimmy Elledge has been thrown out, probably the biggest mistake of the season. The reasons for expulsion are still quite clear, but it was actually probably a question of how the team should be organized in the future. And since Elledge, Ganassi team manager Andy Graves and Tony Glover and were obviously not well agree. In these disputes, the team is suffering so much that Montoya did publicly known, not necessarily wanting to stay with Ganassi. In particular, the expulsion of Elledge, with whom he was well clear, has made him angry. It should have been between him and Chip Ganassi been several emergency meetings, but his somewhat lackluster driving in the last few weeks also suggests more attention to the fact that his patience.

And now also the sponsor then is gone. While Wrigley will remain on board for half the season, but the other half so you have to cover somehow. The problem for Ganassi now is that he is under time pressure. All the big companies put the budget for the sponsorship usually fixed in October, when marketing budgets are strapped. Because it is time to find that someone. It is not easy, because the results of the team did not agree, yes. Franchitti's gone, Sorenson does not develop in such a way as hoped and the benefits of Montoya are still very uncertain.

You will not shake the feeling that the Ganassi team a little wegbröckelt and Chip Ganassi IRL championship because of not really care about his team. If Montoya left the team, that would be the next blow. The Colombian has an exit clause, ostensibly so that he can at least look through time. And right now there are at least three teams who are looking for a good driver: RCR, Penske and DEI.

Gibbs Racing harshly punished
NASCAR has to give the punishment for the Joe Gibbs Racing team announced after they were found at the dyno test a magnet under the gas pedal, that prevented you could go full throttle. And the penalties are harsh. Very hard.

* Seven members of the Nationwide team of Gibbs have been blocked with immediate effect for an indefinite period. That would
- Jason Ratcliff, crew chief # 18 (+50,000 U.S. dollars fine)
- Dave Rogers, crew chief # 20 (+50,000 U.S. dollars fine)
- Dorian Thorsen, Car Chief # 18
- Michael Johnson # 18 engines
- Toby Bigelow, Team Member # 18
- Richard Bray, Car Chief # 20
- Dan Bajek, engines # 20

* Both the # 18 and # 20 to lose 150 points in the constructors' championship
* Tony Stewart and Joey Logano lost 150 points in the drivers' championship
* Tony Stewart and Joey Logano to drive in the entire NASCAR series (including the Cup) on probation.

The last point is a little surprising, since the manipulation of the vehicle after the race was when the drivers were already on their way home. NASCAR is obviously cheating in the series suffering, especially in the last two years, like to drive Toyota teams in the area were affected. So you want to say: If you, regardless of the class, cheating, then it may happen that you will be punished in other classes with the same.

Joe Gibbs Racing has already ruled on the punishment:

We take full responsibility and accept the penalties NASCAR has levied against us today. We had come to the conclusion that we would add to any NASCAR imposed penalties with the minimum being suspension for the remainder of the season for those involved, including our two Nationwide Series crew chiefs. There will also be an additional monetary fine beyond the amount announced by NASCAR earlier today, Which Will be the responsibility of those involved. We are, however, disappointed that NASCAR chose to place our drivers on probation, as they had no knowledge or involvement of this incident.

In the NW series, the Gibbs harm is limited. In the team championship, the # 20, despite the punishment is still 168 points ahead. Have in the championship just before Brad and Clint Bowyer Kesolowski still realistic chance at the title. How do you want to replace the seven team members, but also such a thing.

And what else?
Tomorrow there is an extensive preview of the Valencia GP, including videos of the stretch of road, etc.

08/20/2008

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Addendum: CTS in Bristol the night on SpeedTV from 01.00 clock, starting about 02.10 clock. - Snip - It's no secret that there are problems in the Ganassi team and the season ...