Re NASCAR, is it true that Toyota is allowed to have extra horsepower, over the American brands of cars?

Question

People in my office are complaining about Toyota's advantage and I'd like to know if it's true.

Answer 1

Nope, the biggest reason for their seeming dominance is the amount of money Toyota is pouring into the testing.  The more you test, the more you know what to change to improve performance.

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Answer 2

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Answer 3

The rumors are about 30 extra horsepower.

NASCAR seems to turn a blind eye to it.

Wooley, it was jet fuel (additive).

Answer 4

If they did do you honestly think Tony Stewart would still be winless this season?

Come on now, he'd be racking up wins just as much as Kyle.

And for the record, Kyle always complains about his car, did it at Hendrick, too. He's not winning because they're supplying him with extra HP, he's winning because he wants it! And a big round of applause to Steve Addington, he knows how Kyle likes his cars, he gives him what he needs to get the job done.

Answer 5

You can check the engine with an analyzer or even use a dynamometer but that isn't always going to tell you the whole story. Certain components can produce a horsepower/performance advantage, especially in the fuel delivery system, that when disengaged would never show in test results. Also ignition components. Toyota has the perfect excuse to evade the regulations by using parts that are dubbed as Toyota. The part may look different but produce better results. Or even the drivetrain. It wouldn't take much of an alteration to achieve a performance gain when the regulations for specifications are so tight.

Answer 6

According to Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, there is no significant difference in horsepower from one manufacturer to another.

I know of no NASCAR rule that limits the amount of horsepower an engine is allowed to produce. If there were a limit, race teams and manufacturers wouldn't spend millions on engine testing to develop more horsepower. The sky is the limit on horsepower, but it has to be achieved using engine components and configurations approved by NASCAR.

One consideration is at restrictor plate races. NASCAR mandates the use of a restrictor plate to limit the amount of air used in combustion. This limits horsepower, but not because of any NASCAR rule to limit it as such. The rule is designed to keep the cars running at controlable speeds on the track.

Toyota spends more on engine development than other manufacturer. The old saying, "You get what you pay for" applies here.

Answer 7

That's a load of c**p. All the makes must follow strict engine rules. You forget-Mikey Waltrip got caught with some kind of substance in the intake manifold on his Toyota. Never was explained what, but they penalized the #55 team severley.

Answer 8

Well, the thing that makes me think this is true is that Kyle Busch, a Toyota driver, complains about his car's handling every week and wins everything in site. I think whatever Toyota is losing in handling, which all teams are struggling with, they are making up in horsepower when no other brand has a safety net like that. Good observation.

Answer 9

They have had advantages in the truck and Nationwide series and it seems like they have a slight horsepower advantage in the cup series as well.  I don't know what the exact number is, I have heard anywhere from about 10-30 horsepower or so.  I have not seen the hard data from a dyno but I would suspect there is a very slight advantage there, which goes a long ways when the cars are so close to begin with.  I think it's one of NASCAR's dirty little secrets that they don't want to address, they just like to pretend that if they don't tell us about it we won't figure it out.  

3 STR8 N 08!!!

Answer 10

As far as I know, the reason Toyota has an advantage is that they weren't last season, so instead of focusing on the races they were testing the COT more than the other teams were.  Teams like Hendricks and Rouch were investing their time in the championship so they didn't test as much.

They are not allowed to have more horsepower, the COT car allows for everyone to have the same car specs, but all teams use different engines and some borrow from other teams.

But I LOVE IT!

Answer 11

theres no doubt theres something in them toyatos but the qustion remains what in cant just be horsepowere it could be a  combination  of  fuel mialege ad horsepower it could be a new engine there using but what ever it is kyle busch is getting the front line stuff  i honestly think there cheating i mean 5 wins  and kyles the only one doing it theres something special in there and i dont think its the driver

Answer 12

Nascar looks at manufactures engine parts and approves them for competition.  Nascar then occasionally dyno tests engines after a race to be sure they are all close on horsepower. If one manufacturer is continually ahead in power Nascar can and has in the past changed the engine parts approved to even the power.

I find it curious that Nascar has done little dyno testing this year. Last year they dyno tested regularly and published the results.  The engines were found to be equal last year.

The concensus is Toyota has an edge this year but Nascar isn't checking the Gibbs cars as far as I know.

Answer 13

I don't think you are going to find the real answer to your question here. Sometimes I think Yes they do, and other times I think No they don't!!

If the engine package is the same this season as it was last season, for the Toy's, then their success this year is all about JGR!!!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if Toyota has more horsepower they have had it all along. It just took a good team like JGR to get that horsepower hooked up to the track!

PEACE

Answer 14

I keep hearing this extra horsepower, but yet no one has supplied any proof in the matter.  Til there is proof, it doesn't exist.

Answer 15

They could but nascar has not done ANY TESTING!!!!! on the matter.