What do you think of JGR's engine "experiment" at the All Star race?

Question

Why would he reveal that he had tried an "experiment" on his engines? And why would he not test it out first? He played with a lot of money there, and basically threw the chance of winning out the window.

Do you think NASCAR will be checking out those engines to see if what he did was legal?

Answer 1

i think it didn't go so well.

although i'm sure they learned much from it, hopefully.  and why would he admit he tried to experiment on his engines?  why not?  it's the all-star race and many teams experiment - some work out really well (jeff gordon's t-rex back in 1997), some not so well (JGRs this week).   ray evernham was just on Nascar Now and said they experimented on their cars with a few new things, but nothing that major.  

and most of those things probably have been tested - but not in the actual cars during race conditions.  dyno tests are great tools, and testing during the week at other tracks is great and all, but the only way to truly test the cars/motors during race conditions is to run them in race conditions.  there, the driver is usually pushing harder than at a test session, and there the car has to go through all the factors that are unique to racing with so many other cars on the track.

and nascar checks the engines all the time.  the only people checking out those particular engines, however, will be JGR and toyota, to see what exactly went wrong and how they can fix it.  and when they figure it out, watch out!!!

Answer 2

I actually think it was pretty gutsy of them and applaud them for it. What better race to try a huge "experiment" than the All Star race. You come out of it either a hero or a dunce. This time it was the dunce. But you better know they learned a big lesson without it costing them points: this "experiment" is for the garbage bin!

Answer 3

The all star race is the best time to try something different, no points. I thought Tony did well for having to start in the back. Now they know what wont work. Great idea, plus they are not the first and wont be the last to try an experiment at the all star race. Why are you suggesting it wasnt legal? At the all star race they still have inspections.

Go Smoke

Answer 4

It made my night!

Answer 5

I loved it, I think kyle busch should run that engine all time

Answer 6

id rather test some stuff out in this race and see what its going to an preform an hold up if it dont work oh well back to the drawing bored see what you can do but id rather test something i dont know in this race and if it works an makes the cars fast then i found something

Answer 7

Toyota's got the ca$h Flow !!!

Answer 8

If they get it sorted out and repaired, it's going to be a looong season for the rest of the field. Kyle Busch was checking out from the pack. I'm willing to bet most of the cars in that field had something untested on them.

Answer 9

Its the points at the end of the year that counts, not the all-star race. A all star race win doesn't win you a championship. I think it was smart, try it when it doesn't count as to when it does matter then find out you didn't have all the kinks worked out of it.

Answer 10

It doesn't say much for Gibbs engine department. They have been running engines built by TRD in California all year and those were the first engines built in house. Toyota is the only manufacturer that has 200 engineers working at a no budget skunk works developing and building engines and chassis for Nascar.

I am sure the drivers are pissed. The million dollars and bragging rights are important to them. There are dyno simulators to test engines. Hendrick runs their engine combinations for 800 miles on the simulator before it's allowed to race. TRD has similar equipment.

I am sure they will now begin to experiment with Tony because he is leaving at the end of the year.

Answer 11

Hopefully they try them again at the 600!!  

JGR up in smoke would make up for the boring race that is sure to come this weekend.

Answer 12

I think it was a very stupid move. All three of them had engine problems. Tony got lucky his was before the race. Also he cause two of his drivers the win. It was obvious kyles car was wicked fast and I think Denny could of held off Khane at the end. He was doing a pretty good job of it until he blew his engine. I just hope he asked Tony, Denny, and Kyle if it was ok of him to do that. If he did not ask and I was Kyle or Denny I would be very mad at him! I don't think NASCAR will check because none of them won the race.

Answer 13

It sure didn't do them any good, whatever they tried! I doubt of Nascar pays much attention to what they did because it didn't work. If Kyles engine had held up, and he owned that whole race like he did up until the point that the engine went sour, Nascar would have been all over that thing!!

Answer 14

One of the main things because of gas conservation and also horsepower is lean the jetting in the carb slightly so that it would conserve gas and also make more power.  A lean engine actually makes more power, than a richer one, but in turn it will heat up and blow quicker.  They could allow slightly more air into the radiator to cool the engine to protect the lean burn of the engine.  Wouldn't even think of lasting 600 miles though...  Everyone there gambled last weekend and every All-Star race prior to that...  It is either that or bring your LUCKY HENDRICK BUDDA KEYCHAIN with ya...

Answer 15

Joe Gibbs used their own "in house" designed engines for the race.  It was simply an experiment.  All three cars had rocker arms fail except Tonys was the only engine in which they went back to an OEM rocker arm after the first failure in practice.  It had nothing to do with money or cheating.  Nascar still checks the engines thoroughly during inspection.

Answer 16

They just tried something a little more 'risky' giving more horsepower with less life.  Not a very long race so they could leave a little more on the table.  The money in that race is great and all, but they care about finishing any points race more than that one.  Win or go home in the all star race.

They might look into it, but I doubt there was anything illegal.