Jimmie Johnson: Hendrick Didn’t ‘Rat Out’ Penske Teams

Jimmie Johnson assured that Hendrick teams didn’t “rat out” the two Penske teams that received massive fines this week for unapproved rear suspension packages.

The teams of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano were penalized 25 points. Crew chiefs Todd Gordon and Paul Wolfe, along with team engineers and competition director Travis Geisler were all suspended for six races, as well as the All Star race in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The teams saw their rear end housing parts confiscated on Saturday. The teams were forced to change the configurations before last Saturday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. Jimmie Johnson did say that Hendrick Motorsports told NASCAR Penske was doing something wrong. However, the driver of the Number 48 explained:

“No, the Hendrick group and the 48 team did not rat out the Penske cars. There are two decisions teams are faced with in the garage area. Everybody has teams they’re watching and we’ve been very impressed with the 2 car’s staff and their ability to have someone just standing and watch other teams.”

Both Penske cars were parked next to Hendrick cars last week. While Johnson’s car was next to Keselowski’s, Jeff Gordon’s was next to Logano. The statements by the former NASCAR champion came after Richard Petty, a former NASCAR driver, stated that he was certain someone told NASCAR about the Penske cars’ violations.

Along with the suspensions and points penalties, both Penske crew chiefs were also fined $100,000. Johnson assured as well that Hendrick teams don’t “rat out” the competition, apparently even if they know the other team is doing something wrong. He added during an interview Friday at Kansas Speedway of the decisions teams make:

“One, they go home and they try to adapt it to their car and see if they can make it work. Or they go on the [NASCAR] truck and say something. We don’t say something. We’re a company built on performance.”

Both Keselowski and Logano’s teams are appealing the stiff penalties handed down by NASCAR this week. Keselowski also tweeted a response on Friday, saying that his team doesn’t care if Jimmie Johnson or others “ratted” them out, because they felt the parts were legal.

[Image via Beelde Photography / Shutterstock.com]