Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 10, 1992 TAG: 9202100104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. LENGTH: Medium
INSPECTORS FIND PLENTY OF FUNNY STUFF
With tough Gary Nelson now in charge of NASCAR inspections, one would think these Winston Cup teams would quit cheating.But Nelson and his team of inspectors uncovered plenty of funny stuff Sunday, from bent copper washers to "springy" rear deck lids.
Harry Gant was the biggest loser in the mini-scandals. His qualifying speed of 190.702 mph - fifth fastest overall - was disallowed after NASCAR's intensive post-qualifying inspection revealed that the height of his Oldsmobile was 1/4 -inch lower than allowed.
A lower car goes faster because it cuts through the wind better.
NASCAR Winston Cup Director Dick Beaty said Nelson and his inspectors found that Gant's team had used copper washers in the screw jacks used to adjust the four springs at each wheel.
Each of the washers was slightly bowed, apparently allowing the car to pass pre-qualifying inspection at the legal height. But the washers apparently flattened out during the qualifying run as the car bounced over the small bumps on the 2.5-mile track. And that apparently allowed the car to drop below the allowed height.
"In my opinion, [the washers] would lower the car," Beaty said.
Beaty said Gant's team was not fined. The qualifying disqualification was penalty enough, he said. Gant will have to re-qualify today, but no matter how fast he goes, he'll be starting much further back in the field in his 125-mile qualifying race Thursday.
Meanwhile, Rusty Wallace's team was caught with a different trick that also apparently was designed to lower the height of the car below legal standards.
After discovering illegal screw jacks on Wallace's Pontiac on Saturday, NASCAR officials fined the team $2,000 Sunday.
Wallace then went out and had a poor qualifying effort - finishing 34th out of the 49 cars that ran.
Wallace's speed of 186.185 mph was more than six miles per hour slower than that of pole winner Sterling Marlin. On the stopwatch, that's a whopping 2.5-second difference.
"That's really dejecting," Wallace said immediately after the late-afternoon run. "I don't know what's causing it. I thought we would run almost a second faster than that."
NASCAR said Wallace's team used an illegal pin instead of a bolt at the base of the screw jack assembly. While the car is on the track, the pin will break, allowing the car to drop below the legal height.
But crew chief Eddie Dickerson said he had used the pin so "we could change the springs quicker while testing the car." Dickerson said he was appealing the fine.
If that weren't enough, the cars of Jimmy Spencer and Jimmy Means both were found to have "springy rear deck lids," NASCAR Public Relations Director Andy Hall said.
Hall said no decision on a penalty had been made as of Sunday evening. But both teams were not allowed to make qualifying runs Sunday.
With a springy rear deck lid, the air flow across the top of the car would have the effect of pushing the rear deck of the car down, lowering the rear spoiler below the mandatory 35-degree angle. And that would allow the car to cut through the wind easier and go faster.
Hall said the problem with Means' car was found in the garage area, and the problem with Spencer's car was found on pit road in the line-up for qualifying.
Beaty said a NASCAR inspector reportedly leaned on the rear deck of Spencer's car and it sagged slightly. That prompted a closer inspection, which revealed that an illegal spring mount had been installed under the deck lid, allowing the wind to push the deck lid down.
NASCAR also put Junior Johnson's Fords, which were the two fastest cars, under intense scrutiny. But a complete engine tear-down revealed nothing illegal with the cars piloted by Marlin and outside pole winner Bill Elliott.
\ One might think that Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs would be one happy NASCAR team owner as he gets settled here three weeks after winning his third Super Bowl.
But he wore a slightly gloomy expression Sunday morning, reflecting the sentiments of his Chevrolet crew.
"It's not too good," he said. "We were faster yesterday than we are today."
After qualifying, Gibbs was a bit more chipper. His driver, Dale Jarrett, was 16th quickest on a day dominated by Fords. Jarrett had the fourth fastest Chevrolet.
"We didn't run as fast as we would have liked, but I think it was an exciting first day for us," Gibbs said.
Said Jarrett, "We've been struggling a little learning what it takes to make this new Chevy go fast, but the car's driving good and I think we'll do good in the 125s" on Thursday.
Gibbs watched his driver from atop the team's transporter.
"All of this is fun for me," he said. I got here just after the Busch Clash [on Saturday], but watching the last practice was fun. I'm ready to see some racing."
Gibbs said his primary task here will be "keeping the sponsors happy. My job right now is to pretty much stay out of the team's way."