Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Fast Break

The Spokesman-Review

NASCAR

Fine puts Junior in tough spot

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked 100 points Tuesday, and his crew chief was fined $100,000 and suspended for six races for an illegal part at Darlington Raceway.

The penalty, for illegal modifications to the rear wing on Earnhardt’s Car of Tomorrow, is a significant setback in his team’s bid to win a Cup title. Dale Earnhardt Inc. will appeal, team president Max Siegel said.

“We are not disputing the ruling,” Siegel said. “But we are appealing the severity of the penalty because the penalty itself is not spelled out in the rule book.”

The penalty knocked Earnhardt from 12th in the standings – the final qualifying position for the Chase for the championship – to 14th.

Indy 500

Colts’ car nixed by NFL ‘pinheads’

The Colts have no problem with Peyton Manning starting the Indianapolis 500. They just don’t want a Colts car running in the May 27 race.

Paul Diatlovich, the primary owner of PDM Racing, said he had asked permission to paint Jimmy Kite’s No. 18 car in the Colts team colors – dark blue and white – with a message on the car’s sidepod that read simply “Go Colts.”

Colts officials nixed it because of sponsorship concerns.

“I’m extremely upset with the narrow-minded, pinheaded leadership of the Colts team and the NFL,” said Diatlovich, who lives in the city. “It’s inexcusable. All we’re trying to do is say thank you.”

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league prohibits cross-promotion between sports.

Skiing

Olympic medalist Saubert dies

Jean Saubert, who won two skiing medals for the United States at the 1964 Olympics, has died. She was 65.

She died of breast cancer Monday, Johnson Mortuary of Kalispell, Mont., said.

Saubert was a member of the U.S. Ski Team from 1962 through 1966. She shared a silver medal in the giant slalom and won a bronze in the slalom at the Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria. She was inducted into the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1976.