Did I hear that correct AJ almemdinger test positive ???
updated by @johnny-mallonee: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
Did I hear that correct AJ almemdinger test positive ???
somethings happened to many people moving to many pieces for it not to be
Captain can't be happy.
NASCAR has temporarily suspended Sprint Cup driver AJ Allmendinger, 30, after he failed a random drug test.
Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's senior vice president of competition, made the announcement Saturday, an hour and a half before the start of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
O'Donnell, who did not take questions from reporters, issued a brief prepared statement, saying that Allmendinger's "A" sample tested positive and "pursuant to the rule book, Allmendinger has the opportunity to request within the next 72 hours that his 'B' sample be tested.''
The test was administered by NASCAR last weekend during the Sprint Cup Series event at Kentucky Speedway.
As cars were being readied for the starting grid for the Coke Zero 400, Allmendinger's Penske Racing team was working frantically in the garage putting in a new seat in the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Dodge so Sam Hornish Jr. could drive the car.
Hornish, the 2006 Indy 500 winner, competed in Friday's Nationwide Series race for the team and had to fly back to Daytona on Saturday afternoon, team president Tim Cindric told The Associated Press.
Cindric is in Toronto with the organization's IndyCar team, and legendary team owner Roger Penske was returning from Europe, according to AP.
Penske Racing released a statement via Twitter saying it "fully supports" NASCAR's "strict drug testing program." And the team "will work with NASCAR through this process and its next steps.''
Allmendinger, whose best finish in the marquee Cup series was as runner-up at Martinsville, Va., in April, had qualified eighth for the Daytona race.
This is only the second time a Sprint Cup Series driver has tested positive for a banned substance. Jeremy Mayfield was suspended indefinitely after failing a drug test in 2009.
Penske: A.J. Allmendinger to request 'B' sample test
3:00 PM, July 8, 2012 |
By Curt Cavin, The Indianapolis Star
TORONTO (USA TODAY) Roger Penske called A.J. Allmendinger's failed drug test "a disappointment" but said the NASCAR team will wait for a second test to be performed this week.
Penske said Sunday before the Honda Indy Toronto race that Allmendinger's "B" sample would be tested Monday or Tuesday.
"You know it's a disappointment at this particular time, but we're going to wait and see what the second test results are before we make any comment or decisions," Penske said. "I don't think it's fair to him."
Allmendinger, a former Champ Car World Series driver, is in his first season with the team after replacing Kurt Busch, who was released after a series of embarrassing incidents.
Now Penske has another driver dilemma.
"I think as you look at sports, things happen like this," he said. "It's unfortunate, but I don't really want to make a statement pro or con right now. I'm counting on another test being proper for him within 72 hours, and at that point we'll make a decision."
Penske said his team, Penske Racing, was informed that Allmendinger's "A" sample had tested positive about 4 p.m. Saturday, less than four hours before the Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
Allmendinger has 72 hours from early Saturday afternoon for the "B" sample to be tested, meaning he has to make the request by early Tuesday afternoon.
After the request is made, it could take up to five days to confirm the results of the "A" sample.
Once Penske learned of the failed test, the team rushed Nationwide Series driver Sam Hornish Jr. to the No. 22 Dodge. He took a 2-hour flight from Charlotte and made it into the car in time to miss only one parade lap.
Hornish, the 2006 Indianapolis 500 winner, had a tire issue in the second half of the race and finished 33rd.
Contributing: Nate Ryan in Daytona Beach, Fla
