2012 Daytona 500: Jimmie Johnson's Car Found in Violation of NASCAR Standards

According to The Associated Press via the Washington Post, Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet has been found in violation of NASCAR standards after an inspection.

The area in question was the C-posts, which separates the side windows from the roofing area. That part of the car has been confiscated by NASCAR for further inspection at its technical laboratory.

Although Johnson himself will probably not face any penalties for the upcoming Daytona 500 race on Feb. 26, crew chief Chad Knaus might not be so lucky.

It is not the first time he has been caught trying to bend the rules to make his machine go faster.

Although this is the primary job of every crew chief, Knaus has been known to bend the rules to the breaking point in order to secure top performance for Johnson's ride.

This is not even the first time Knaus has run afoul of the rules in the days leading up to the Great American Race. He was banished from the pit box in 2006 for trying to tinker with the No. 48 car after qualification. This is a major no-no in terms of NASCAR rules.

The penalty here, though it would almost without doubt give Johnson an edge, will probably not be as harsh. An honest mistake could have possibly been made. Knaus will most likely not be dismissed this year.

Still, one has to wonder as to past infractions committed by Knaus. Is it yet another case of moral turpitude on his part?

Either way, Jimmie Johnson will be racing. He just won't have the same C-posts that he might have expected.