NASCAR: Brian Vickers Docked Points, Kevin Hamlin Fined $100,000

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - NASCAR docked Brian Vickers 150 driver points and fined crew chief Kevin Hamlin $100,000 because the Red Bull Racing team dipped its sheet metal in acid to make it lighter than required.

Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz also was docked 150 owner points Wednesday, while Hamlin and car chief Craig Smokstad were both suspended indefinitely.

Red Bull Racing general manager Jay Frye said the team accepted responsibility and would not appeal the penalties.

The infraction was discovered after the No. 83 Toyota was randomly selected for a post-race inspection following Vickers’ 11th-place finish at Martinsville Speedway. The car was sent back to NASCAR’s R&D Center in Concord, where it was discovered the sheet metal did not meet minimum thickness requirements.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)