Qualifying times for 500 disallowed: 48 and 96

Cheaters never prosper. NASCAR drove that point home after two cars failed post qualifying inspection at Daytona International Speedway.

Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Hendrick Chevrolet team have had their qualifying time for the Daytona 500 disqualified. The Lowe's team flunked post race template inspection after the rear window template failed.

Garage insiders allege that a lowering device consisting of a jackbolt on the rear window was found on the No. 48 Chevy. Crew chief Chad Knaus' and his team have a long history with NASCAR in pushing the envelope in the terms of rule infractions.

The No. 48 car has been impounded by NASCAR with the possibility that the car will be confiscated but no decision on that was going to be made this evening.

The No. 96 Chevrolet of Terry Labonte was also disqualified for having an unapproved modification to their carburetor. The Hall of Fame racing team tried to deny culpability because they purchase their engines from Joe Gibbs Racing.

With qualifying basically setting just the front row for the 500 with the Gatorade 150's determining the rest of the field it's not the blow Johnson and Labonte would have suffered under the usual qualifying standards. Both those drivers will be allowed to compete in the Gatorade races; however, they will have to start at the rear of the field and race their way into the starting field of the Daytona 500.

"Under the circumstances we want to get the season off to a good start," said Jim Hunter, Vice President of NASCAR Corporate Communications. "We said before that we would ratch it up on the penalties. We will do whatever we need to do to make sure they stay within the parameters of the rules."

Additional penalties will be forthcoming with possible fines and suspensions for the two teams in question.

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