NASCAR seizes part of Johnson's 500 car

NASCAR confiscated part of Jimmie Johnson's Daytona 500 car Friday because of illegal modifications, a rocky start to Speedweeks for the five-time Sprint Cup Series champion.

NASCAR officials determined the No. 48 Chevrolet had illegally modified C-posts, an area of sheet metal between the roof and the side windows.

Officials cut off the C-posts and planned to ship them to NASCAR's research and development center in Concord, N.C., for further testing.

NASCAR allowed the Hendrick Motorsports team to fix that area of the car before practice begins for the Feb. 26 Daytona 500. Qualifying is scheduled for Sunday.

"Well, it's a hell of a way to start the 2012 season," said Ken Howes, vice president of competition at Hendrick Motorsports. "But the car obviously failed inspection and NASCAR has directed us how they want it fixed and we're busy doing that. We're waiting on some parts to arrive and we'll put it back together and run it through inspection again."

The No. 48 team and crew chief Chad Knaus could be penalized following the series' premier event.

"When we get back to North Carolina after the Daytona 500, we will address any further actions that may come out as a result of this," NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said.

Howes said modifying C-posts would provide an aerodynamic advantage.

Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said he believed the other three Hendrick Motorsports cars — those driven by Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne — passed inspection.

Knaus has been caught cheating before.

Most notably, he was sent home before the 2006 Daytona 500 after NASCAR officials found illegal modifications following a qualifying session. Last season, Knaus was caught on camera telling Johnson that if he won a race at Talladega he needed to "crack the back of the car," apparently to build an explanation in case the car did not past post-race inspection.

TV car parked

Track officials have canceled plans to have pro golfer Bubba Watson drive the car from the television series "The Dukes of Hazzard" at Phoenix International Raceway because of concerns about a negative reaction to an image of the confederate flag.

Watson was scheduled to drive the 1969 Dodge Charger, known as the "General Lee," on a parade lap before the March 4 Sprint Cup series race at Phoenix. The car has a large confederate flag on its roof, just as it did when it appeared on the show.

In a statement, NASCAR spokesman David Higdon says the image of the confederate flag "is not something that should play an official role in our sport as we continue to reach out to new fans and make NASCAR more inclusive."

F1 driver shuffle

Russian driver Vitaly Petrov is replacing Jarno Trulli at the Caterham Formula One team.

Caterham, formerly known as Team Lotus, says Petrov was at the team's factory in England on Friday for a seat fitting and will take part in preseason testing in Barcelona next week.

The 27-year-old Petrov was released by Renault at the end of last year after two seasons.