NASCAR chairman Brian France says no mixed message on Brad Keselowski cellphone penalty

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – NASCAR chairman Brian France says the series loved the attention it received from Brad Keselowski’s in-car tweeting during the Daytona 500.

But it took NASCAR officials by surprise because phones weren’t supposed to be inside cars. Keselowski was fined $25,000 for having a cellphone in his car last week at Phoenix, which was discovered because he tweeted during a red flag.

France says there was no mixed message sent by the fine because the policy on smartphones “evolved” over the season and NASCAR can’t allow devices in the cockpit because they could be used to manipulate the electronic fuel injection systems.

France also says NASCAR is moving toward digital cockpits — perhaps as early as 2014 — and they could include social media capability for the drivers.