Quote from crackedback:
Harvick and Burton caught with some not so kosher wheels...
.003 slit cut in them to bleed off excess air pressure.
Re-Posted From USENET .....
It's been reported that in post race inspection, both the 29 & 31 cars were
found to have modified bead areas on their wheels that allowed excess air
pressure buildup to bleed off. There will be no points or monetary fines
since this is deemed a 'gray area' not specifically addressed by the rules.
I'm not so sure about that. Bleeder valves are specifically banned in NASCAR
competition. Their purpose is to manipulate the air pressure in the tire
once it has been mounted on the car. The laser cut slots in the RCR cars
wheels was designed to circumvent that rule and manipulate air pressure once
the wheel was mounted on the car. It is a definite competitive advantage.
Other attempts to circumvent various rules for competitive advantage have
resulted in monetary and point fines. Accidental violations that did not
result in competitive advantage have been fined as well. Of the latter
category, the manifold spacer that cost Mark Martin a fine, 25 points, and
arguably the championship one year was deemed to have offered no competitive
advantage. The difference was a matter of it being bolted in place rather
than welded to the manifold as required by rules. It was purely an
oversight.
Accidental violation, no competitive advantage = violation, points and
monetary fine.
Deliberate circumvention of rule, competitive advantage = pee-pee slap.
I just love consistent enforcement.............
