Johnson to be fined....

[antig24]

NASCAR is expected to levy a fine as early as Tuesday, upwards of $15,000 to Nextel Cup driver Jimmie Johnson for placing a sign atop his No. 48 Chevrolet and obscuring the view of a sponsor's product during Sunday's Victory Lane ceremonies at Pocono Raceway, ThatsRacin.com has learned.

Following his win in Sunday's Pennsylvania 500 in Long Pond, Pa., Johnson exited his car and placed a Lowe's sign - Lowe's is the primary sponsor of Johnson's team - atop his car and in front of a large blue Powerade bottle.

 

Powerade is an official sponsor of NASCAR.

 

During the course of Victory Lane ceremonies, the Lowe's sign actually fell off the car, but was inexplicably picked up and replaced in its original position obscuring the Powerade bottle by NASCAR official Dave Finley, witnesses said.

 

Hendrick Motorsports officials were notified Monday of a likely fine, sources said. Officials with Hendrick and NASCAR were unavailable for comment late Monday.

 

Two weeks ago during a pre-race drivers meeting at New Hampshire, NASCAR president Mike Helton had told drivers "do not take it upon yourselves to remove products" placed on cars as they come in for victory celebrations.

 

Johnson did not remove or move the Powerade bottle Sunday, witnesses said.

 

Many of the recent issues have mostly been with a the large, blue Powerade bottle placed atop winning cars that some drivers have pushed or even knocked off their cars.

 

The drivers who do so have affiliations with Gatorade or with Pepsi, which owns Gatorade. Powerade is a Coca-Cola product.

 

"You can maneuver away from it or work around it," Helton said at New Hampshire. "If that doesn't begin happening again, we will be forced to deal with it."

 

The fine for Johnson, the series points leader, would be the first for such issues this season. Johnson was asked about the Victory Lane incident Sunday night during his post-race winner's interview.

 

Asked if he was told to touch or not touch any bottles in Victory Lane, Johnson replied, "No, I wasn't. I was a little more aware of camera angles to try to honor my sponsors and take care of them. I even took the liberty of putting a sign up in front of brand 'X'.

 

"It's weird that the driver - in Victory Lane - has to worry about defending and honoring your sponsor because of relationships that exist outside of your control.

 

"I hope we get this rectified and when you pull into Gatorade Victory Lane you're drinking Gatorade and that's all there is to it."

[Hecktorx]

This is a stupid fine. I hope he pays it with all pennies like Wallace did years ago.

[gave20]

I agree, i it was up to NA$CAR they would scroll their official sponsors on the screen during a race, sort of like the 24 hr news channels. the sport is good for corporate america but not the sport. Waltrips interview on Sunday was pathetic speed reading your sponsors doesn't impress me nor does it cause me to buy their product. I buy a sponsors product if it fits my needs not because it's on some guys shirt.

[Elwood]

As for the Waltrip ting I think it's funny when he does that stuff. He is always making it blatantly obvious that he is just making sure they are mentioned.

 

The jimmie Johnsin thing I though was hilarious. I'm not a fan of his, but I loved that he did that. I think Pepsi and Lowes should get together and somehow give him a bonus in the same amount of his fine. Here is an article on it that tells the exact amount of the fine.

 

Jimmie Johnson fined $10,000 for post-race incident

 

 

August 3, 2004

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Ticker) - Nextel Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson on Tuesday was fined $10,000 by NASCAR officials for his actions following Sunday's victory in the Pennsylvania 500.

 

After taking the checkered flag, Johnson emerged from his car and placed a sign in front of a PowerAde display before being interviewed. Johnson is sponsored by Pepsi while PowerAde is a product of Coca-Cola.

 

"NASCAR president Mike Helton thoroughly explained the proper protocol for victory lane ceremonies in a drivers' meeting two weeks ago in New Hampshire," NASCAR spokesperson Jim Hunter said. "We're going to address these situations in an orderly fashion, just as we always have. We expect our drivers to follow this protocol."

 

The fine takes a chunk out of the $90,000 in prize money Johnson received for his win at Pocono Raceway. Johnson leads teammate Jeff Gordon by 232 points in the standings but is fifth in earnings.

 

Johnson, who also won the Pocono 500 on June 13, became only the fifth drive to sweep the two races at Pocono Raceway. He has posted 11 top-five finishes in the last 13 races.

[tmf6902]

NASCAR has gotten out of control.....now they have a d**n Pepsi vs. Coke war??? Gimme a d**n break.....maybe they should just stop showing the race, and replace it with commercials.

[Hecktorx]

.....maybe they should just stop showing the race, and replace it with commercials.

Isn't that what we have already? Commercial programing with 3 minute race breaks every 15 min.

[davechevyss]

 

that fine is stupid, johnson should have held a gatorade up by the camera his whole interview