Untouchable Online

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition for NASCAR, was chatting amicably with some folks Sunday when J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing, sauntered up.

Gibbs wore the look of a man whose children just got caught doing something really awful in school.

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The intention was to manipulate the numbers that we get when we get our information and data off the dyno.
”
ROBIN PEMBERTON"OK, I gotta go," said Pemberton, suddenly assuming the role of principal as he took Gibbs by the arm and led him into the NASCAR officials' trailer behind them.

There was good reason for the consternation on Gibbs' face. Two Nationwide Series race teams fielded by JGR face serious penalties after NASCAR officials discovered blatant attempts to alter post-race chassis dynamometer tests.

The infractions were discovered by Nationwide Series inspectors following Saturday's Carfax 250 at Michigan International Speedway, according to Pemberton. The cars involved were the No. 18 Toyota that was driven to a seventh-place finish by Joey Logano, and the No. 20 Toyota that was driven to a third-place finish by Tony Stewart.

"In our post-race inspection, our inspectors discovered some shims that were placed on the gas-pedal stop. They were magnets that were about a quarter-inch thick that prevented the accelerator from going 100 percent wide open," Pemberton said.

Gibbs said he is still putting together information about why the shims were put in place and exactly who authorized it. But he was not pleased about it, either.

"It was a really, really poor decision by some of our key guys at JGR. I want to apologize to NASCAR, to our partners, to Toyota guys. A couple of guys chose to make a decision there that really impacts all of us," Gibbs said.

It is not unusual for NASCAR to test cars on the chassis dynamometer, which measures rear-wheel horsepower. Officials have administered this test several times during the season, and the No. 18 and No. 20 were only two of several that were tested following the Carfax 250.

The JGR teams in question have dominated the series for much of the season, combining to win 14 of 25 races. The infractions come shortly after NASCAR announced rule changes for the Toyota engines used in the Nationwide Series last month. The guidelines were intended to cut 15 horsepower and level a playing field that fellow competitors had insisted was lopsided for much of the season because they believed the Toyota engines were producing more horsepower than other manufacturers.
Gibbs said he simply didn't understand what his employees hoped to accomplish by attempting manipulate the post-race dyno tests.

"To me, the frustrating part is why? I know they're probably frustrated from the standpoint that, hey, we have less horsepower than ever before and we want to make it look like we're handicapped more than ever before," Gibbs said. "I understand that, but that's not an excuse."

Pemberton said penalties likely will be forthcoming within the next couple of days.

"Like we always do, we're just going to get together Monday and Tuesday at Concord and Daytona Beach, and see what's next," Pemberton said. "I anticipate that we haven't seen the end of it. We historically don't make our decisions within a 24-hour period. It takes time to get everybody in a group and talk about it."

Carfax 250
Unofficial Results

Pos. Driver Make

1. Carl Edwards Ford
2. Brian Vickers Toyota
3. Tony Stewart Toyota
4. Mark Martin Chevrolet
5. Greg Biffle Ford
6. Mike Bliss Chevrolet
7. Joey Logano Toyota
8. Jason Leffler Toyota
9. Kelly Bires Ford
10. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet

• Results | Videos | GalleryPemberton added the intent regarding the placement of the magnetic shims was obvious. The shims were designed to keep the gas pedals from being fully depressed, thus limiting the engines' output and distorting the data NASCAR would have received had it not discovered them.

"The intention was to manipulate the numbers that we get when we get our information and data off the dyno," he said.

Pemberton said the shims were removed and the tests performed correctly, although he said NASCAR officials have not had time to digest all the information.

"We got what we needed," he said.

Pemberton said he could not remember a precedent for a similar type of post-race inspection rules violation, and he said following his meeting with Gibbs that Gibbs could not justify why the magnetic shims had been put in place.

"J.D. had no explanation," Pemberton said. "J.D. wasn't here [Saturday], and J.D. was just going to go back and discuss things with his team. And he was apologetic for what happened to put everybody in this situation."

Later, Gibbs met with the media and reiterated the blanket apology.

"Going forward, No matter what NASCAR does, we're going to address those issues in-house. We're going to find out exactly who's responsible, and there will be punishments involved. That's just how life goes. You can't do that," Gibbs said.

"For us, any violation is a serious one. Keep in mind that it wasn't an on-track violation. In no way was the car we had on the track racing anything other than what it should have been. That would have been an extremely huge deal. ... Whatever business you're in, if you can't come in and do it the right way, what's the point? Throughout the years, if you ask NASCAR, we've tried to do things the right way."

Joe Gibbs, J.D.'s father and owner of JGR, added in a statement that he personally intends to get involved in finding out what happened and why, and dealing appropriately with those responsible.

"If this alleged incident proves true, it goes against everything we stand for as an organization," Joe Gibbs said. "We will take full responsibility and accept any penalties NASCAR levies against us. We will also investigate internally how this incident took place and who was involved and make whatever decisions are necessary to ensure that this kind of situation never happens again.

"The expectations we set for everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing begin with me, and I personally apologize to NASCAR, our partners and our fans for the negative light this situation has cast upon all of us."