Could the magnet have been?

Question

Do you think that the magnets found on the JGR cars could have been put there to save fuel? Did NASCAR find that with this device removed they had too much HP? This is not something a driver(at least not Tony) can reach during a race, was it added after the race but before inspection?

Answer 1

There was no excuse. You don't cut horsepower because you are 100% sure that you'll win on fuel strategy.

It was cheating.

The test results have not been made public  yet. They did say that after the magnets were removed that the tests went well (meaning no more obstructions of the test were found)

Also this was not in Tony's #20 Cup car. It was a Nationwide series car (the 20 and 18 car)

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I'm sure when they take their safety device off and remove the steering wheel he can reach the gas pedal.

Answer 2

The magnets were placed on the pedals after the race. NASCAR has chosen to penalize the Toyotas by making them use a spacer plate on the carburators to reduce previous horsepower. Some members of JGR wanted to embelish the accomplishemnt of horsepower reduction so that NASCAR would not consider further procedures to reduce them more. They did this by using the magnets to keep the pedal travel from showing the maximum RPMs capable of the toyota engine. This gave them no racing advantage, and was done so only to appease NASCAR and make NASCAR think they accomplished a large enough recudction of power on the Toyotas so as not to think they need to penalise them further.

I for one think if your engine shop has the ability to build stronger engines, making more horse power, and you are within the guidelines set by NASCAR as far as displacemnt size etc, then you should not be penalized for doing a great job. As LOgano said, "no one makes Tiger Woods" play with smaller clubs, because he gets more power on his drives!"

Answer 3

i heard that they put the magnets in to satisfy nascar because nascar asked them to decrease horsepower because they had more than the other guys, but i heard they put it in for testing and inspection and then easily removed it for the race which would give them the advantage. but thats only what i heard, it would however explain kyle busches immunity to slow race cars though.

Answer 4

The magnet were placed at the bottom of the pedal keeping the pedal from being pushed all the way down. Less gas going to the motor means less horsepower.

Answer 5

1. If JGR were not trying to cheat, they wouldn't have apologized for cheating!

2.  Too much HP is subjective and completely up to the discretion of NASCAR.  I think it's ridiculous to punish people for building better engines within the rules.

3.  It was added after the race when they found out the cars were to be tested on a dyno.

Answer 6

No, they were put there to alter the results of the test. ( to make it seem like those two cars had less power than they really did). I've not seen the results of the tests with or without the magnets. Yes, the magnets had to be added after the race, as only a fool would restrict their own horsepower during the race. I'd bet the drivers didn't do it. But I'll also bet there will be fines paid, owner points lost, and a few crew chiefs working from their cell phones next week, if not worse!! I think all the teams cheat when they think they can get away with it! JGR got caught and will have to pay the price same as other teams have in the past!!!