The Nationwide Series team that had two cars involved in the horrific multi-car wreck during Saturdays Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona including #32-Kyle Larsons car, which vaulted off another car and into the catch fence, showering parts into the stands and injuring at least 28 is under scrutiny for possible rules violations by NASCAR. Sources have told FOXSports.com that principals from Turner Scott Motorsports are meeting with the heads of NASCAR on Tuesday to discuss Larsons car as well as Danica Patricks, which was discovered to have modifications to the cars chassis during inspection at Daytona International Speedway. Patrick was competing as a Turner Scott teammate to Larson and was not involved in the wreck. NASCAR has brought Patricks #34 GoDaddy.com Chevy back to its Research and Development Center for further inspection. The modification to the #34 Chevy was described by a garage source as ‘squaring off the trailing edge of the frame rails” to decrease drag from the car and provide an aerodynamic advantage to the rear of the car. Three counts of drag is equal to one-tenth of a second on the racetrack. It is uncertain whether any similar altercations were made to the other three cars. One car builder said under anonymity, ‘Air will get off of a sharp edge better than it will a rounded edge, but its not worth the risk.” NASCAR has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to any change on a certified chassis. With the introduction of the Car of Tomorrow in 2007, the sanctioning body began requiring Sprint Cup teams to certify every chassis that competes in a race. When the COT was introduced in the Nationwide Series in 2010, that tour fell under the same rule. When a car is involved in a major wreck, the chassis must be re-certified before competition. Section 12-K of the NNS Rulebook states that ‘if, in the judgment of NASCAR Officials, Race Equipment that has been previously certified or previously approved and/or sealed by NASCAR for use in an Event, pursuant to sub-section 8-6 and/or 8-12, has been altered, modified, repaired, or changed in any manner: a fine and/or disqualification and/or loss of a minimum of 25 Championship Driver and/or Car Owner points and/or loss of the opportunity to qualify, and/or loss of a pre-determined starting position in the Event, and/or loss of a provisional starting position in the Event, and/or confiscation of Race Equipment, and/or probation, and/or suspension of any NASCAR Member(s) may be assessed.”( Fox Sports )(2-26-2013) UPDATE: Tuesday afternoon, NASCAR communications director Kerry Tharp said that the #34 Chevy had passed inspection at the R&D Center. He believes the #32 Chevy is still in Daytona. Tharp added that its normal for team members to accompany the car for inspections.( Fox Sports )
