Gordon, Johnson further penalised

NASCAR officials had already stated at Sonoma that further penalties would be levied on both the No. 24 and No. 48 teams, despite them already being punished on the track by being excluded from practice and qualifying on Friday after their cars failed the opening-day inspection.

Besides the exclusion from Friday's activities, both teams now face the deduction of 100 driver and team owner points, and also the suspension of their respective crew chiefs Steve Letarte and Chad Knaus for the next six Nextel Cup races, meaning they will only be back for the second race at Michigan, a week after the second road course event of the year at Watkins Glen.

Both crew chiefs have also been fined US $100,000 each, and NASCAR has put them on probation until the end of the year.

NASCAR had imposed a similar penalty on the No. 8 team of Dale Earnhardt Jr earlier this year for an infraction found on the rear wing of his Car of Tomorrow at Darlington during the pre-race inspection.

Some people may have expected a tougher punishment for Gordon, Johnson and their teams, but the fender being a hand-made piece may have influenced NASCAR's appreciation of the rule violation on both Chevrolet Impala SS cars.

As a result of the penalties announced, Jeff Gordon has seen his lead in the standings cut back to 171 points, while Jimmie Johnson falls from third to fifth in the points, although he maintains the gap to the championship leader.

Jeff Gordon also falls to fifth in the car owner points, as he officially owns Johnson No. 48 entry, while Rick Hendrick still leads those standings with Gordon's car.

Gordon finished seventh last Sunday at Infineon Raceway claimming 146 points, while Johnson had only managed a 17th place finish, crediting him with 117 points plus five more for leading a lap during the race.