Well, we have yet another term to add to the ever burgeoning NASCAR Dictionary. Look up Discretionary Penalty and you'll find a picture of Jimmie Johnson there. Hopefully without the Mr. Ray Hair-Weave he's sporting in his latest NEXTEL commercial...
In Sunday's race at Las Vegas, a NASCAR Official intercepted a tire that came off of Jimmie Johnson's car during a pitstop at the end of the race. The equipment (tire) left the pit box and was out of control. Only the official's action kept this from being a potential safety issue. That said, NASCAR declared that they did not charge Johnson with the usual penalty for this infraction because it was a 'discretionary' judgment call. Oh, boy!! Now we have a new NASCAR policy as to when the officials decide whether or not to enforce a penalty....Or, Johnson has added a NASCAR Official to his Pit Crew....Did Johnson's whining about the late caution at California 2 weeks ago, which took him out of the lead of the race, cause NASCAR to get all touchy-feely about Poor Jimmie?...Ah, yes...another black mark on the dark and sooty face of NASCAR...and they they wonder why fans get upset that they appear to make up the rules as they go along -- even though the sport has been around for over half a century.
I can't wait to see what happens the first time Jimmie loses a lug nut during a pit-stop. Perhaps the official will go over and help put it back on the wheel. With NASCAR, one never knows...
