NASCAR seizes part of Johnson's Daytona 500 car
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - NASCAR has confiscated part of Jimmie Johnson's Daytona 500 car because of illegal modifications, a rocky start to Speedweeks for the five-time Sprint Cup Series champion.
NASCAR officials determined the No. 48 Chevrolet had illegally modified C-posts, an area of sheet metal between the roof and the side windows.
Officials cut off the C-posts and planned to ship them back to NASCAR's research and development center in Concord, N.C., for further testing.
NASCAR is allowing the Hendrick Motorsports team to fix that area of the car before practice begins for the Feb. 26 Daytona 500.
Qualifying is scheduled for Sunday.
NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp says the sanctioning body will wait until after the Daytona 500 to "address any further actions that may come out as a result of this."
NASCAR champ Stewart wrecks in Shootout practice
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Defending Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart has wrecked during practice for the exhibition Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway.
Stewart, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, AJ Allmendinger and Jeff Gordon were involved in a six-car accident about 45 minutes into the first practice session Friday.
Stewart was transported to the infield care center, treated and released. He seemed to start the melee by driving into the left side of Kurt Busch's rear bumper, turning the No. 51 Chevrolet sideways and setting off the wreck.
The cars of Stewart, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Keselowski and Allmendinger sustained significant damage. It appeared all of those drivers were switching to backup cars.
Gordon's car sustained minor damage.
The Budweiser Shootout, a non-points race, kicks off the 2012 season Saturday night.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
