Kyle Busch, Sauter penalised

The cars of Busch and Sauter were both found to be lower than the rules stipulate for the left front after the race.

And, despite both drivers holding on to their finishing positions of 11th and 14th respectively, they have been punished by NASCAR for the rule infringements.

Each has been deducted 25 driver championship points, and their respective crew chiefs - Alan Gustafson and Robert "Bootie" Barker - have each been fined with US$25,000 and placed on probation until September 19.

In addition, Rick Hendrick, owner of the No. 5 entry of Busch, has been penalized 25 car owner championship points, as has Joe Custer, the owner of the No. 70 car.

"Both cars were too low in the left front," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston had said before the penalties were issued.

"But we don't consider this tampering with the integrity of the Car of Tomorrow. It's not that kind of an infraction. It's more of what we would call a competition infraction."

As a result of the penalties, Kyle Busch moves one position down in the drivers' standing to tenth, still inside the top twelve who make the Chase, while Sauter holds on to his 34th place in the standings.

The penalty for Busch is the second in as many weeks for Hendrick Motorsports, after the No. 24 and No. 48 teams of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson were punished with points, suspensions and fines for failing the opening-day inspection at Sonoma.