When #48-Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Knaus, was suspended last week after Johnson’s car failed post-qualifying inspection, Knaus packed up and headed home to Charlotte, NC. He was banned from all remaining Speed Weeks events, and NASCAR will consider expanding the penalty after today’s Daytona 500. Since Knaus went home, NASCAR has approved the Hendrick Motorsports crew chief’s post-practice telephone and e-mail communication with his team and Johnson in preparation for the 500. The team has adjusted to communicating with Knaus from four states away. Johnson, though, would prefer his 500 didn’t play out this way. “We talk at night and work on a game plan for the next day and work on that test matrix, if you will,” Johnson said, “and come back and have a conference call the next evening and talk about what worked and what didn’t. It’s definitely a different way of working on a race car. I’ve never been through it and certainly hope we’re never in this position again.”(Palm Beach Post)(2-19-2006)
