Veteran NASCAR [#38, #88] car owner Robert Yates said Friday that if #48-Jimmie Johnsons crew chief Chad Knaus was found guilty of deliberate and flagrant cheating by NASCAR that he should be banished from the sport for life. If Knaus merely skirted the rules, Yates added, than probation would be the appropriate punishment. If what he did, there was language in the rules about not doing that particular thing, then he ought to go race the Talladega Short Track the rest of his life, Yates said of Knaus. If the (NASCAR rule book) language covered that area gone. Just gone forever, because thats just stealing. If (what Knaus was caught with) was a hydraulic system, or a little winch that pulls a cable so the rear-end housing pulls his body down, outta here, outta from now on. Thats a device. Thats clear, Yates said. If it was a creation that was not covered by the language or intent, then I think he needs to be on probation for a while. Knaus was ejected from Daytona 500 Sunday after NASCAR inspectors discovered he had altered a rear jack bolt to move the rear window on the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in an attempt to improve aerodynamics. After ejecting Knaus, NASCAR sent him back to North Carolina for the remainder of Speedweeks and said that next week it may levy additional penalties, including a longer suspension and point fines.(Speed Channel)(2-18-2006)
