Monday, July 14, 2008

WAS THE LEAD IN, OUT... OR NON-EXISTANT?

During Saturday's race at Chicagoland Speedway, a report appeared on ThatsRacin.com -- the satellite site for the Charlotte Observer's NASCAR coverage -- which explained the supposed subterfuge behind the #96's in-race penalty was in fact water bottles filled in part with lead.

In part, here is The Observer's posting as it appeared during the race:

The car failed pre-race inspection when two water bottles were found in the car containing lead, NASCAR officials said.

(The full article can be read by clicking on this LINK.)

Today, we get NASCAR's and the #96 team's response to those "allegations", via NASCAR.com:

Garfinkel added that initial speculation centering on lead in the car's drinking system was unfounded. "There was no funny business," he said. "We made a couple of mistakes. They punished us for it. We made some mistakes in procedure, but there was no funny business. There was no malice or intent or anything like that."

Furthermore, NASCAR says that the in-race penalty incurred by the #96 team would be the last of sanctions the team would face.

"We're fine," NASCAR's vice president of competition Ryan Pemberton said. "We're done with them."

I guess, the question I have is, does The Observer correct their initial report, or do they continue on their path of questioning the internet and its journalistic ethics in lieu of keeping their own house clean?

My best guess? It'll be the latter.

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