Gordon, Johnson cars fail inspection

Officials found the front fenders on the No. 24 and No. 48 cars to have been modified outside the NASCAR tolerances and as a result, both Hendrick cars have been parked for the day and will not be able to complete any practice or qualifying.

"This is a Car of Tomorrow penalty," said NASCAR's Managing Director of Communications Ramsey Poston. "The inspection process and NASCAR's reaction to Car of Tomorrow violations are going to be more severe.

"We're going to keep this car in check. It's important to know that all cars in the field are starting out equal and all have the same opportunity to win the race as the others."

A further announcement regarding their participation on Saturday practice has yet to be made, although it is expected that they will take part in Sunday's race, starting from 41st and 42nd place on the grid, due to their status in the points standing.

However, they will have to go through inspection first, although they have yet been unable to modify their cars at the track to meet the tolerances of the technical inspection.

NASCAR officials stated during a press conference that further penalties could be assessed for both teams next week.

Earlier this year, Dale Earnhardt Jr was punished for an infringement with the rear wing mountings of his Car of Tomorrow, losing 100 points in the driver and team owner standings, plus a US $100.000 fine and the suspension of crew chief Tony Eury Jr.

The other two Hendrick Motorsports cars of Kyle Busch and Casey Mears did go through inspection.

Hendrick Motorsports have dominated most of the Car of Tomorrow races this year, winning five out of six events that have been contested with the new car so far.