Fitz Motorsports acknowledges the fine and penalties imposed by NASCAR on the #22 Dodge following the NASCAR Busch Series race in Montreal; however Fitz Motorsports will issue an appeal based upon extraordinary circumstances. After careful review by Fitz Motorsports engineers, a conclusion was drawn that the issue with the spring in question was due to an effect of driver Patrick Carpentier being forced off the course at the end of the race.(Fitz Motorsports PR)(8-8-2007)
UPDATE: On August 15, 2007, the National Stock Car Racing Commission heard and considered the appeal of Fitz Motorsports. The appeal concerned three penalties issued by NASCAR following post-race inspection on August 4, 2007 for the Busch Series race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The Appellants contended that the infraction may have resulted from two off-course excursions by the racecar during the race, and that any resulting coil-binding effects from a deflected spring would not be a benefit on a road course. In deciding the Appeal, the Commission considered several factors:
There was no indication that the infraction was intentional or premeditated. Rather, the evidence suggested that a component with a number of existing service cycles may not have held up to the rigors of the race.
Fitz Motorsports does not have a history of rules violations in this series.
Race contact damage could not be directly attributed as a factor in this case. The Commission notes that front-running cars, such as the Appellants, were frequently impacting raised curbing at several locations around the road course each lap.
Ultimately, the spring did not meet specifications in the Rule Book and the penalty assessed by NASCAR was consistent with penalties for similar violations in this series.
Therefore, it is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the original penalties assessed by NASCAR.(NASCAR PR)(8-16-2007)
