Notebook: Stewart faces penalty, Johnson to start from back

30.09.2007 00:00 Sport and Travel - Source: USA Today

NASCAR officials requested a videotape of the exchange and said they were investigating the matter.

A penalty could damage a bid for a third championship by Stewart, who will enter Sunday's Lifelock 400 trailing Jeff Gordon by two points in the Chase for the Nextel Cup standings.

Stewart was docked 25 points and fined $25,000 for saying "bull——" in an ESPN interview after winning the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard on July 29 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was fined $10,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31 for skipping media obligations after finishing second at Phoenix International Raceway on April 21. A few days later, he accused compared NASCAR with professional wrestling in accusing its officials of throwing bogus cautions for debris.

ESPN broadcaster Dr. Jerry Punch apologized to viewers after Stewart's latest transgression.

"It was an unfortunate incident," ESPN spokesman George McNeilly said. "The tape speaks for itself. In our view, the photographer was doing his job."

McNeilly said ESPN uses tape delay when broadcasting two-way radio conversations, but "we don't feel the need to use a tape-delay system when working with professional athletes."

To the back:  Pole-sitter Jimmie Johnson will start from the rear of the field in the Lifelock 400 after spinning his No. 48 Chevrolet during Saturday's final practice. Johnson appeared to lightly scrape the left side of his car in Turn 3, but Hendrick Motorsports Vice President of Development Doug Duchardt said the impact caved in the sheet metal.

"The damage is more significant than it may look from a cosmetic standpoint," Duchardt said. "Aero here at Kansas is very important and given the option to use a backup car that we know is 100%, even to start in the back, is the best option in the Chase."

Johnson chalked up the crash to driver error.

"The car was kind of loose," he said. "I thought it was coming to me and so I started opening up my entry into the corners, and it just got out from underneath me getting into Turn 3. We definitely didn't need that. I'll have to start in the back but this track is wide and good, and we can race anywhere."

It's the second time Johnson has crashed in a Saturday practice after winning the pole at Kansas. In 2003, he rallied to finish seventh and led 20 laps.

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