Post by Notch93 on Aug 17, 2008 13:02:30 GMT -5
www.thatsracin.com/247/story/17552.html
NASCAR blows the whistle on Gibbs teams
Attempts made to rig dyno test after Saturday's race, official says
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008
BROOKLYN, Mich. - The Nos. 18 and 20 Nationwide Series teams of Joe Gibbs Racing - which have dominated competition in the series most of the season - could face serious sanctions after NASCAR officials said late Saturday the teams had attempted to alter the outcome of a chassis dyno test.
After Saturday's Nationwide race at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR tested several cars on the chassis dynamometer, which measures rear-wheel horsepower, as officials have done several times this season.
During the test, NASCAR officials discovered magnets on the accelerator pedals of the two Gibbs Toyotas. Several sources said the magnets could, in theory, keep the pedals from being fully depressed, which would limit the engines' output and distort the data available to officials.
"This was an attempt to interfere with NASCAR's post-race inspection process, and we are taking it very seriously," said Jim Hunter, vice president of corporate communications for the sanctioning body.
Hunter would not go into detail about what NASCAR officials found, but said both teams faced penalties, which would be announced early next week. No action would be taken at the track this weekend, he said.
Reached Saturday night, JGR team spokesperson Mike Arning said team officials felt that they were adhering to the rules laid out by NASCAR with the cars entered in Saturday's race.
Last month, NASCAR announced rule changes for the Toyota engines used in the Nationwide Series. The new guidelines were intended to cut about 15 horsepower. Saturday's race at Michigan was the first since that change in which horsepower was expected to play a larger role in performance and the race outcome. The previous three events were on a short track and two road courses.
So far this season, JGR's No. 18 and No. 20 Toyotas have combined for 13 wins in 25 races, with the most recent Kyle Busch's victory at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind., in late July.
NASCAR blows the whistle on Gibbs teams
Attempts made to rig dyno test after Saturday's race, official says
JIM UTTER
The Charlotte Observer
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008
BROOKLYN, Mich. - The Nos. 18 and 20 Nationwide Series teams of Joe Gibbs Racing - which have dominated competition in the series most of the season - could face serious sanctions after NASCAR officials said late Saturday the teams had attempted to alter the outcome of a chassis dyno test.
After Saturday's Nationwide race at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR tested several cars on the chassis dynamometer, which measures rear-wheel horsepower, as officials have done several times this season.
During the test, NASCAR officials discovered magnets on the accelerator pedals of the two Gibbs Toyotas. Several sources said the magnets could, in theory, keep the pedals from being fully depressed, which would limit the engines' output and distort the data available to officials.
"This was an attempt to interfere with NASCAR's post-race inspection process, and we are taking it very seriously," said Jim Hunter, vice president of corporate communications for the sanctioning body.
Hunter would not go into detail about what NASCAR officials found, but said both teams faced penalties, which would be announced early next week. No action would be taken at the track this weekend, he said.
Reached Saturday night, JGR team spokesperson Mike Arning said team officials felt that they were adhering to the rules laid out by NASCAR with the cars entered in Saturday's race.
Last month, NASCAR announced rule changes for the Toyota engines used in the Nationwide Series. The new guidelines were intended to cut about 15 horsepower. Saturday's race at Michigan was the first since that change in which horsepower was expected to play a larger role in performance and the race outcome. The previous three events were on a short track and two road courses.
So far this season, JGR's No. 18 and No. 20 Toyotas have combined for 13 wins in 25 races, with the most recent Kyle Busch's victory at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind., in late July.
