Jimmie Johnson: 5-Time NASCAR Champ Facing Questions Due to Illegal Car

Fair or unfair, five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson is facing questions after illegal modifications were found on one of his cars once again.

On Friday, NASCAR confiscated the C-posts from Johnson's car during the initial inspection process. This comes after crew chief Chad Knaus was caught on film telling Johnson to damage the rear end of the same car if he won Talladega in October.

Knaus was also suspended four races and fined $25,000 in 2006 after officials discovered a device that pushed the rear window out more than three quarters of an inch as a competitive advantage.

Johnson's driving ability and success is unquestioned, but the fact of the matter is that these violations have become way too frequent. Drivers and their teams know the rules. They may not agree with them, but they have to adhere to them.

This isn't the first violation—this is a repeat offense. In that regard, Johnson either doesn't care about Knaus' cheating, or he simply is oblivious.

Legacies are fragile things. We've seen more than a few come apart in NASCAR's history. Despite all of Johnson's success, his legacy will always be challenged, either by other drivers on the course or off-course events. How a driver ends his career is just as important as how he starts it.

After seeing his record string of NASCAR championships come to an end last year, Johnson needs to get off to a fast start in 2012, both literally and figuratively. This certainly doesn't help.

Obviously, Knaus' legacy is under the gun, too, but Johnson's name is nonetheless attached to Knaus. At some point, Johnson and Knaus need to start examining how they go about doing things because it has the potential to come crashing down on their heads.

Johnson is a respected driver in NASCAR, but that can always change. If illegal modifications continue to be found on his cars, the controversy will only grow grander, and controversies have a way of damaging legacies.

All I'm saying is Johnson needs to more careful. He's too good of a driver to be leaving himself vulnerable off the course.