NASCAR: Don't cheat post-race inspection
Matt Weaver / Image by LAT

In light of the recent rule changes regarding the Sprint Cup post-race technical inspection policy, NASCAR vice president and racing development officer Steve O'Donnell delivered a stern warning to teams on Sunday: Do not circumvent that process.
In his opening remarks during the drivers meeting at New Hampshire, O'Donnell advised teams not to do anything that would affect the post-race inspection procedure – an order that seemingly includes the practice of weaving cars back and forth after the race to reset the aerodynamic skew.
"I know there's been a lot of dialogue about what takes place after the checkered flag in post-race inspection," O'Donnell said. "So I want to make clear to everybody here that if in NASCAR's judgment [there are] any measures to circumvent what happens in post-race inspection, we're going to react.

"We know that's subjective, but we ask all of you not to put that in our hands, because we will react if we have to. I think everybody knows what that means. We want to concentrate on the race. We want to celebrate the winner for the second race of this Chase.
"We couldn't be more clear and we hope everybody agrees with that."
NASCAR made a series of changes to its inspection failure policy this week after Chicagoland race winner Martin Truex Jr. and 12th-place finisher Jimmie Johnson both failed the Laser Inspection Station. But since Truex wasn't so above the tolerance that it appeared egregious or intentional, he was allowed to keep his win bonuses, which include an automatic berth into the second round of the playoffs.
Johnson, on the other hand, would have been subject to the same points penalty that Truex would have needlessly received, but that would have been far more crippling outcome for the No. 48 team. That would have placed the six-time Sprint Cup champions in a difficult spot to advance without winning over the next two weeks.
In short, this was perceived as unfair and NASCAR reacted by changing the language of the rule book to avoid penalties unless the infraction was a P4, P5 or P6 – those considered to be far enough above the tolerance that it would warrant taking away win bonuses.
NASCAR also increased the tolerance for the LIS station but warned that even slightly going over it would result in grave consequences for the offending team. O'Donnell essentially reasserted that claim on Sunday at New Hampshire.