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They are so inconsistent their prejudice is showing.

Here is what happened with the 48 last year.

http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/02/21/jjohnson_cknaus/index.html

Knaus suspended through Atlanta
No. 48 loses no points, Knaus fined $25,000; No. 96 penalized
By David Newton, NASCAR.COM
February 22, 2006
10:10 AM EST (15:10 GMT)

CHARLOTTE -- Chad Knaus was shocked when Jimmie Johnson's car didn't pass NASCAR's post-qualifying inspection for Sunday's Daytona 500, resulting in what amounts to a four-race suspension for the veteran crew chief.

"Yeah I was shocked,'' Knaus said after NASCAR announced on Tuesday he would miss the next three races on top of being ejected from the 500 won by Johnson.

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"I didn't know what was going on. I came back [from getting ready for the rained out Budweiser Shootout] and our car, I thought was going through inspection, was covered up. Yeah, I was shocked.''

Knaus, who also was fined $25,000, would not discuss the specifics of what NASCAR referred to as a device that that pushed the rear window out more than three-quarters of an inch to create an aerodynamic advantage.

Although he has apologized to Johnson, sponsors and everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, Knaus showed little remorse and never admitted during a lengthy conference call that what he did was a blatant attempt to break the rules as NASCAR said.

"There's a lot of things out there that can be called intentional,'' said Knaus in his first interview since being ejected from Daytona. "The fact of the matter is, when NASCAR went back, it didn't fit the templates. How that happens is pretty irrelevant.''

Knaus' response didn't seem to surprise Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition.

"Maybe that's why he's in trouble,'' Pemberton said.

Knaus was relieved that Johnson was not penalized championship points as Terry Labonte, driving for Hall of Fame Racing, was for having an unapproved carburetor during qualifying.

Labonte was docked 25 points and team owner William Saunders was penalized 25 owner points. Crew chief Philippe Lopez was fined $25,000.

Pemberton said Knaus' penalty was in line with past violations. He cited the four-race suspension given to Todd Berrier, the crew chief for Kevin Harvick, for rigging a fuel cell to appear full during qualifying last year at Las Vegas.

Terry Labonte

ALSO
The following is a statement from Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs regarding the $25,000 fine and the deduction of 25 owner and 25 driver points NASCAR levied against the No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing Team for having an unapproved carburetor during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona.

Hall of Fame Racing has an engine lease program with Joe Gibbs Racing, and the unapproved carburetor came with the engine supplied to Hall of Fame Racing.

"Joe Gibbs Racing provides all of the engines and carburetors for Hall of Fame Racing," said Gibbs. "We are responsible for any issues having arisen from the unapproved carburetor that was taken by NASCAR in Daytona. It is never our intention to put any unapproved parts on any of our race cars or those of our partners. We will join Hall of Fame Racing in appealing the severity of the penalty."

Pemberton said the difference between Knaus' penalty and the Hall of Fame penalty was Labonte's car had an illegal part.

"When we lay our hands on that, that's when we generally go with points,'' he said. "In the case of [Johnson's car] it was all legal parts and pieces, the window and the jack bolt.

"It wasn't anything illegal about the pieces. They just were orchestrated in a way to alter the back of the car.''

Pemberton believes the loss of a crew chief for a month is more severe than a points penalty. On that, Knaus agreed.