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NASCAR Seizes Part Of Johnson's Daytona 500 Car

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (AP) - NASCAR has confiscated part of Jimmie Johnson's Daytona 500 car 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 back to NASCAR's research and development center in Concord, N.C., for further testing.

NASCAR is allowing 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.

NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp says the sanctioning body will wait until after the Daytona 500 to "address any further actions that may come out as a result of this.''

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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