Sunday, September 10 - Post-Race Aftermath
In post-race inspection, NASCAR impounds the intake manifold from the engine on Gordon's Chevrolet. When asked, NASCAR Spokesperson Kevin Triplett says that the governing body has "an issue" with the manifold.

Tuesday, September 12 - NASCAR Statement
NASCAR waits two full days to announce its findings. The governing body ruled that Jeff Gordon's crew chief Robbie Loomis has been fined $25,000, Gordon will suffer a loss of 100 driver points, and Rick Hendrick will lose 100 owners points due to the intake manifold on Gordon's car that he took to victory in the Chevrolet 400 at Richmond. "The General Motors intake manifold that the #24 team used during Saturday night's race in Richmond has not been approved," said NASCAR COO Mike Helton. "The GM part number on the casting was the same, however, a different material was used which altered the properties of the casting. The changed casting was not resubmitted by GM for NASCAR's approval in accordance with our procedures."

Tuesday, September 12 - Rick Hendrick's Response
Hendrick Motorsports CEO Rick Hendrick announces that his organization will appeal the penalties.
"We have notified NASCAR that we will appeal the penalty imposed on the #24 team following our victory Saturday night in Richmond. Not only do we feel a full hearing on the facts will exonerate our team from any intentional wrong doing, but it will remove any cloud of suspicion cast over a great victory.
The alleged violation involves the use of a magnesium alloy rather than aluminum in the intake manifold. The engine part in question is not built by Hendrick Motorsports, but is supplied to us and all other teams by General Motors. The engine part found to be in violation of NASCAR rules Saturday in Richmond has a GM part number specifically listed in the NASCAR rule book as an approved intake manifold. GM engineers believe that the intake manifold conforms to all NASCAR rules according to approved templates, gauges and other measuring devices. Hendrick Motorsports engineers have tested the part and determined that it in no way affected horsepower output.
We were under the impression NASCAR officials have been aware of the use of magnesium in intake manifolds for several months and had indicated to GM that it was approved as long as the part was not altered in any other way. There was no attempt to conceal the part, which we have been running since April. It also passed post-race inspection in Charlotte for two of our cars. Hendrick Motorsports has a strict policy that our people abide by the rules. There certainly was no attempt by us to gain an unfair advantage with a part available to, and in fact used by, other teams, and we feel confident this ruling will be reversed on appeal."

Tuesday, September 12 - General Motors Statement
General Motors Racing released the following statement from Doug Duchardt, NASCAR Group Manager for GM Racing, regarding the penalty NASCAR assessed to Jeff Gordon and his crew chief Robbie Loomis following Saturday night's Chevrolet 400 at Richmond International Raceway:
"We are very disappointed in the penalties by NASCAR against Hendrick Motorsports and Jeff Gordon. We supplied these magnesium intake manifolds to our teams in the clear belief that they are allowed under the rules. They are identical in shape and dimensions to the comparable aluminum manifold, produce no increase in horsepower and NASCAR has, on many occasions, permitted changes in materials of components where not explicitly prohibited by the rules. There is no mention of materials in the rule on intake manifolds.
There has never been any intent by GM Racing to provide these parts to teams secretly or to secure an unfair advantage by doing so. NASCAR technical officials have been aware of the use of this manifold for some time. Moreover, on multiple occasions, engines using these manifolds have been inspected by NASCAR and pronounced satisfactory.
We pride ourselves on having open, constructive communications with NASCAR officials on all matters, especially technical ones. Our track record over the years is proof enough of that. We followed the same process as before and believed that the submission of a new part to NASCAR for approval was not necessary. It is deeply regrettable that this situation has occurred.

Thursday, September 21 - Hearing Date Set
The National Stock Car Racing Commission announced that the appeal hearing requested by Hendrick Motorsports has been set for Thursday, September 28.
"Representatives for Hendrick Motorsports asked for a period in order to prepare for their presentation," said George Silbermann, chairman of the National Stock Car Racing Commission. "This was the date that the members of the commission and Hendrick Motorsports agreed upon for the hearing."

Friday, September 29 - NSCRC Ruling
After a day long hearing on Thursday, September 28, the National Stock Car Racing Commission issued a ruling the following day. The Commission, made up of three NASCAR officers, upheld the governing body's earlier judgement. The Commission issued the following:
"In the hearing, the appellants correctly noted that the NASCAR Winston Cup Rule Book does not specifically denote the material of the approved intake manifold, however, all witnesses in the hearing acknowledged that the approved NASCAR intake manifold, as listed in the NASCAR Rule Book, is aluminum. Sections 20 and 20-5 of the NASCAR Rule Book require that all changes to engine components must be submitted to NASCAR headquarters and approved by NASCAR prior to being used in competition. The change from aluminum to magnesium was not formally submitted to NASCAR headquarters and was not approved by NASCAR.
The commission notes and reaffirms the following fundamental principle, which is vital to maintaining the integrity of the sport: Regardless of the source of an unapproved part on a race car, the race team that officially enters the car in a NASCAR race and competes with that race car is ultimately accountable for that race car's conformance, or non-conformance, to the rules.
It is the unanimous decision of the National Stock Car Racing Commission to uphold the penalty assessed by NASCAR. The appellant has the right, under Section 15 of the NASCAR Rule Book, to appeal this decision to the National Stock Car Racing Commissioner."

Friday, September 29 - Rick Hendrick's statement
We are disappointed in the decision concerning our appeal. We felt we presented a strong case that NASCAR clearly indicated to us and other GM teams that there was no issue with the use of magnesium in intake manifolds.
Unfortunately, the NASCAR rule book is very vague concerning what constitutes an approval and we feel that there needs to be some clarification of this to prevent these types of situations from occurring in the future.
As we’ve said before, use of the part in question did not give us a competitive advantage and should in no way detract from the team’s victory at Richmond. There is one further step in the appeals process and we are trying to make a decision concerning any future action at this time.

Friday, September 29 - Jeff Gordon's statement
The decision has been made. We’re moving on. We gave it our best effort. That’s all I can say. We laid all the facts out there that we knew of, and they made the decision, and we’re moving on.