Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief calls NASCAR penalties ‘unfortunate’

Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief, Chad Knaus, said Friday that his Hendrick Motorsports team was surprised by the stiff fines it drew from NASCAR after Johnson’s car failed opening-day inspection for the Daytona 500.

Johnson, a five-time champion, was docked 25 Sprint Cup Series points and Knaus and car chief Ron Malec were suspended for six races after NASCAR found unapproved body work on Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet.

But Knaus and Malec remained with the team as it prepared for Sunday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway because they’re appealling the penalties.

“We didn’t expect” the penalties, Knaus told reporters before Johnson and other Cup drivers held their first practice Friday. “We do everything we can to build the best race cars we possibly can bring to the racetrack. Unfortunately they didn’t like something and we’ve got to address that.”

If upheld, the points loss would put Johnson in an early hole in the Sprint Cup standings as he seeks a sixth title.

But Knaus said the team was not worried. “Somehow or another we seem to get through adversity pretty well,” he said. “I’m pretty sure we’ll rise to the occasion.”