Toyota leaving IRL for Nascar

[mpg9999]

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[G.Irish]

No surprise there. Well, initially I was kinda surprised that they tucked tail in IRL so quickly but I guess they were after a bigger prize.

It'll be interesting to see if Toyota finds a way to dominate NASCAR since there are very few avenues for technological innovation in the series. Lucky for NASCAR it is unlikely that Honda will follow suit since the last 2 times Honda and Toyota went at it in American motorsport left two demolished series in their wake...

[Evan]

been a longtime coming

[.RJ]

It'll be interesting to see if Toyota finds a way to dominate NASCAR since there are very few avenues for technological innovation in the series.

I'm not sure, when they came into the truck series the current engine guys got a hold of some toyota motors and said "shit, these guys are 3 years ahead of us" (in a nutshell - I dont remember all the details of the article).

[G.Irish]

Good point. As a matter of fact, when Toyota was coming into IRL Tony George said something like, "With our formula costs won't get out of control like they did in CART..." Well within about a year or two costs spiked dramatically because of Toyota, then Honda. They thought they had a sufficiently restrictive formula but the dueling Japanese proved otherwise.

This time Honda won't be joining the party but I suspect sooner or later Toyota is going to rock the boat in a big way.

[Andy]

Pardon my ignorance, but I thought NASCAR still used carbs? Is there much technological advancement when you can't use EFI.

[.RJ]

Is there much technological advancement when you can't use EFI.

Of course there is - its all about maximizing the package you have to work with, regardless of carbs, efi, steam power, etc.

[Andy]

Is there much technological advancement when you can't use EFI.

Of course there is - its all about maximizing the package you have to work with, regardless of carbs, efi, steam power, etc.

Need you use that tone. I was asking, in terms of Carbs, I would think most of the tricks would have already been found and it's now more about aero, weight management and cheating.

[.RJ]

I *beleive* the carb is spec'ed so there's not much development on the car itself, but you can still make gains in airflow, exhaust, combustion chamber efficiency - and one of the big advancements with the toyota engine over the ford/chev/etc was in the cooling system in the block.

[Andy]

I *beleive* the carb is spec'ed so there's not much development on the car itself, but you can still make gains in airflow, exhaust, combustion chamber efficiency - and one of the big advancements with the toyota engine over the ford/chev/etc was in the cooling system in the block.

Interesting

[GreenFlag]

...since there are very few avenues for technological innovation in the series.

C'mon.....they are switching to unleaded fuel in 2008, after all.

[Kaan]

if you can cool the motor better, you can tape more of the front end up. and thats ALL i know about NASCAR... ok other than the crazy parties where the RVs park and the ? age chicks that are running around all over.

[Dragon]

and the ? age chicks that are running around all over.

I'm surprised we don't hear about RJ going to NASCAR races then.

[Evan]

we should hit the richmond race this year

[Dragon]

we should hit the richmond race this year

If you're truly interested I might be able to get a couple all access passes.

[Feersty]

YES!

[lyltoy]

if you have never seen a NASCAR race live, it is def. something that you should check out, especially at RIR...that race is usually quite entertaining, lots of action, but thats just my opinion

[JustinG]

Alotta hardcore rednecks from my area were pissed when toyota entered the truck series, so i cant wait to see what they say about them entering into Nextel and Busch series. The richmond race is a blast though.

[Feersty]

I hope Toyota does well.

[Myuki]

we should hit the richmond race this year

werd! 8)