Steve Lane, crew chief for the #40 Dodge driven by David Stremme, has been fined $2,500 because the team’s scorer, Joel Charpentier, left the scoring area prior to the completion of this past Sunday’s event at California Speedway. Lane was in violation of Sections 12-4A and 9-4A (crew chief assumes responsibility for actions of team members).(NASCAR PR)(9-6-2007) UPDATE: When Charpentier heard that the #15 jackman, T.J. Ford was injured [ended up being ok] when the #40 car clipped him, and that they did not have a backup, he found someone to relieve him on the scoring stand, and came down to #15 pits to offer his services [his Dad Dave is the crew chief]. With the approval of the #40 Car Crew Chief and Ganassi’s Team Manager Tony Glover, Charpentier stepped in and relieved Ford. It was only when he returned to the scoring stand to retrieve his bag and radio, that he found out that NASCAR was not happy with him leaving the scoring stand, because even though he found a replacement before leaving, he failed to inform NASCAR before leaving. So it was not just an arbitrary desertion of his post.(9-7-2007)
