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October 07, 2005
Does safety = advantage for Toyota?
By Krista Voda
Matte kudasai.
Which means "wait a minute" (i think?!) in Japanese.
As NASCAR continues to develop and test its Car of Tomorrow, one has to wonder how this will affect, and ultimately benefit, the new manufacturer making a play in Nextel Cup racing...Toyota. Word is that Toyota will begin cup racing in 2007, which just happens to be the same year NASCAR is projecting putting its COT on-track full-time.
So, while Chevy, Dodge, and Ford team owners will have to scrap their old cars in order to build the new ones, Toyota can simply start with the new design, and avoid wasting all of that money on the old one.
The Car of Tomorrow will be on track, at this point it's not a matter of if, but when. It's already been tested at Talladega. Another huge test is planned for the Monday following Atlanta. All of the big-name owners are scheduled to take part in this one.
NASCAR is looking at using the new cars at least once next year, possibly in the fall, before implementing full use of the Car of Tomorrow for the 2007 season.
This week, on PRN's Garage Pass, Jack Roush said he's hoping the COT gets rolled out slowly. Roush joined other owners in pleading that case before NASCAR. According to Roush, if team owners can phase out their old cars, at the same time NASCAR phases in the new style, the cost, although still significant, would be greatly reduced.
The only Toyotas you can expect to see on NASCAR tracks next year, are flatbeds. But the buzz surrounding which Nextel Cup teams will switch to the manufacturer for 2007 is at decibel-level. Bill Davis, Michael Waltrip, Roger Penske, all in the mix. (Remember, Waltrip will be driving for Bill Davis in '06...looks like his owner hat will match Bill's in '07).
No question, the Car of Tomorrow will help insure that the guys who drive it have many more tomorrows. It will be wider and longer. The driver will be situated some 4-inches closer to the center of the car. The rollcage will be improved. And new 'crushable' materials will be introduced.
The drivers are glad the COT is coming and the owners appreciate the safety initiatives. But you can bet a few of those owners are really glad the calendar is working in their wallet's favor.
October 7, 2005 | Permalink
Comments
I don't see an advantage for anyone...They all have to struggle with the new body etc. And the big guys will still have track knowledge. Me, I'm not doing a panic, "The Japs are coming to take over the sport!" The more the merrier...anything that brings more fans and knowledge (about NASCAR) can't be all bad.
Here's a more useful Japanese saying...(Two fingers in the air)bi-ru. Unless you drink alone that gets ya 2 cold ones!!!
Posted by: Keith | Oct 7, 2005 8:18:38 PM
For the record it's "choto mate kudasai" that means "Wait a minute, please!"
"Matte Kudasai" is a single by the band King Crimson, released in 1981.
But thanks for the Japanese refresher, it brought back memories of my 7 years there. Not that I need it with the Japanese F1 Grand Prix this weekend. Ahhh... those Japanese hotties!!!
Toyota may have a slight advantage because they will start fresh with the COT. But that, in my opinion will be negated by being new at the NEXTEL Cup level. It will also be dependent on which teams they align themselves with. Davis looks to be a lock with the M. Waltrip/Darrell Waltrip connection. the rest are up in the air.
Even though Honda has denied it, the company have been provided with CTS templates and considering they just introduced their "supersized" Ridgeline truck in the States it stands to reason they wouldn't let Toyota have CTS and eventually Cup alone to themselves.
Posted by: Marc | Oct 7, 2005 9:03:10 PM
Why isn't anyone talking about the Tony Raines crew chief drug suspension? Is that for pot or for steroids? Just curious.
Posted by: Ralph | Oct 7, 2005 9:43:00 PM
I posted a note about it. Not much to say really. He got busted, he's gone and good riddence.
Question: Why on earth would a crew chief need steroids? Does he bench press the pit crew on off days?
Obviously it was of the mind altering varity, not the muscle building type. And unless the guilty admits to the drug you'll never find out.
Posted by: Marc | Oct 8, 2005 12:30:24 AM
Ever since the heat they got over the 1995 Monte Carlo supercar, NASCAR seems to have done a decent job of attempting to keep things equal (too decent, some would say, but that's another argument). I can't imagine they will let any make come out of the box with a new-generation car that has decided advantages over another one.
Just out of curiousity, who might the author be of the "Does safety = advantage for Toyota?" post?
Posted by: David Green | Oct 8, 2005 8:24:37 AM
That would be the third piece of our Turn 3 puzzle, Krista Voda.
Posted by: Bob Henry | Oct 8, 2005 9:03:35 AM
YEAH Krista! It's GREAT to see one of the best motorsports journalists in America on here!
Kyle Petty was among those who tested the COT at Talladega and he seemed to like it as well...guess NASCAR will go ahead with it..no matter what anyone says!
Posted by: Greg | Oct 8, 2005 11:40:50 AM
Until the submission deadline for 2006 Nextel Cup cars passed, the rumors about Toyota being in or out next year fluxuated quite a bit. Now it looks to me like they were waiting to see the time table that NASCAR would put on the COT implementation. That's pretty smart if you ask me. Why build a bunch of cars that will only run one year and then start over the next?
Did Toyota have any influence regarding NASCAR's decision (if that turns out to be fact) to do an all-at-once changeover? That's a question for the black helicopter crowd.
Keith gave the straight scoop on the language issues, I spent 18 glorious months there courtesy of the USAF. To add to that, after quaffing a few bi-ru you might ask; obenjo wa doko desu ka? (Where is the restroom?).
Posted by: ronmon | Oct 8, 2005 12:02:40 PM
David Green, you don't know Toyota. NASCAR has to crack down EXTREMELY hard to keep Toyota from bankrupting the other marques.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Oct 8, 2005 3:36:53 PM
I'm just curious how they think they can break up the big teams. Example is the Hendrick Organization. 24,48,5,25,44 are Hendrick but then you have the 01,10 and 0 who lease Hendrick engines and run Hendrick chassis and share data amongst one another. To me that's all you'll see. How can they say no 01 and 10 you can't work with them anymore? Roush you shut that 6 and 97 car down. To me lose 2 Roush, 2 Hendrick, 2 Ganassi. You're down to 38-39 car fields. Just the way NASCAR runs their business one day may bite them. They take no advice and don't listen to their fans or competitors. NFL has a competiton board made up of coaches, owners, nfl officials and they come up with rules and such. NASCAR just decides for all. That isn't a great strategy usually.
Posted by: Scott | Oct 8, 2005 9:05:58 PM
Welcome to TR Krista!!! I have similar thoughts as you regarding Toyota's emergence into NASCAR. The safety factor, no matter how important, are simply a rouge to allow Toyota to run with the rest of them.
Feel free to stop by the Infield and "shout it out loud" as KISS used to sing we would love to hear from you.
Posted by: Mark | Oct 8, 2005 9:36:26 PM
Hey Krista !!
A breath of fresh air..cool. My only japaneese would be Fugii, as in McHales'Navy. The answer is, You betcha'! Mr. Penske does not make a change unless he thinks it will result in an advantage. Unless a big pile of money is involved. In this issue, my guess is that he wants both. Don't they all?
Posted by: Larry | Oct 8, 2005 9:36:28 PM
How about changing the Busch series rules so they can use the redundant Cup cars? Just bolt on the smaller carb and away they go. Then at least the Cup teams could save or make some money from their old equipment.
Posted by: David | Oct 9, 2005 5:11:49 AM
I am ill of hearing about these millionaires saving a buck. They are getting 2 million for 40th place in pts. Sponsor $$, TV money, and 25 bucks for a tshirt. PPPPPllllllllllease.
Posted by: Larry | Oct 9, 2005 11:21:47 AM
Trust me, first it's Toyota then we get Nissan then Honda. You think the current Big Three spend money on NASCAR. Let them in and you've sold the series. I just left a Rousch cherity event at Kansas Speedway and it was real nice to see an ocean of Chevy, Dodges, and even Fords. Guess France wants more wine and cheese bars than Bud booths. Ive been a NASCAR fan since I watched Petty in the 60's. We'll never see another Petty or another Earnhardt racing for themselves or a Childress, all your going to get now are corporate drivers for multi car teams. Their sponsors should walk down the line of trailers outside the track and they would realize by the lack of lines at the Kennseth and Busch sites that the fans are not behind multi-car teams.
Posted by: JOEB | Oct 9, 2005 6:55:59 PM
great to see you around.you got sc...d by speed.you know nascar and how it works. keep up the good works
Posted by: louie morgan | Oct 9, 2005 9:23:14 PM
Scott,
They can break up the multicar teams imply by not accepting the entry blanks of teams above a set limit, say of three teams, until those teams can be proven to be independent operations, in fact and not just on paper - their shop is in a different town from a bigger team (for example, Doolie, NC instead of Moorsville), they build their own engines or get them from a supplier not controlled by a race team (such as ProMotor Engineering), and so forth.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Oct 9, 2005 10:22:04 PM
Mike,
It's simpler than that...follow the money! The NFL does it with their salary caps etc. The money never lies and always points the way.
Posted by: Keith | Oct 10, 2005 10:10:01 AM
NASCAR obviously does not take any lessons away from the USAC/CART/IRL history.
Enjoy NASCAR entertainment, becasue I believe we have seen the high point for stock car racing in America....until a real stock car series comes along, that is.
Posted by: BARman | Oct 10, 2005 10:18:42 AM
I saw Brian France on 60 Minutes say NASCAR was a $3 billion dollar a year business. One of these days a handful of top drivers are going to start their own league with a weeknight TV contract and control the sanctioning body themselves.
Five percent of $3 billion is $150 million. Don't you think Tony Stewart and Ken Schrader (both track owners) alone could start a series with a couple of random veterans that took 5% of NASCARs market share? It happened with the ABA, AFL and USFL. It will happen with NASCAR. I know I'd love to see a series on CBS with top production values on a weeknight.
Posted by: joejoejoe | Oct 10, 2005 10:32:47 AM
Right on, Keith.
Here's the thing - let have as many damn teams as they want. 1, 2 or 50, whatever.
But - restrict testing, and cap R&D and Testing dollars.
Like a 5 car organization gets 9 tests. Period. (at NASCAR sanctioned tracks). Split those 9 among the 5 teams however you want, but that's all you get. And cap the R&D and Testing dollars so that unsanctioned track tests are kept to a minimum.
So the 5 car organization and the 1 car organization are basically on a level playing field.
I think that would be a start.
Posted by: the6and9 | Oct 10, 2005 11:23:15 AM
Oh, I like this road. Before we wake up from the dream, could make heat races so that tv could actually show the racing.
Til' the 60min show it did not really occur to me that we are paying to watch commercial billboards go round and round. To rub it in even more, on TV we are watching commercials interrupted by the moving billboards. Oh geeez.
I'll never pick on those guys chasing the little white ball, ever again. ha.
No matter what I say. Serious or in jest, I seldom miss a lap.
Posted by: Larry | Oct 10, 2005 11:24:22 AM
Hey Krista,
Its great to see you back doing nascar! You can never be replaced:)
Nothing more hotter than a female that knows her "chit" when it comes to nascar :)
I for one am not looking forward to Toyota coming into nascar and throwng thier money all around. Now Toyota next is honda, Nissan and the rest of them.
Keep up the good work Krista and good to see you back.
Eddie
Posted by: Eddie | Oct 10, 2005 1:05:03 PM
So why is Krista Voda not on Speed anymore?
Krista has a lot more to offer the public than many of those seen on Speed programs of late.
Posted by: Dr. Jensen | Oct 10, 2005 3:47:17 PM
Great to hear from you Krista. Miss you on Speed. The bubleheads that replaced you and Ralph wouldn't know a spring rubber if it hit them in the head.Guess Speed is taking a lesson from NASCAR and going after a new fan base and forgetting thier old one.I keep wishing somebody would give NASCAR some competition and bring back STOCK car racing the way it used to be!!
Posted by: Wayne Relstab | Oct 10, 2005 4:45:41 PM
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