Fluid in the manifold

[nirvana]

Whether any of you have heard about Nascar coming down on crew chiefs or not, I was wondering if anyone had any idea what might have been in Waltrip's manifold.  He claims it was oil, Nascar has only said it isn't.

http://wwww.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/02/13/mkenseth.kkahne.penalties/index.html

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

NASCAR said they don't know what it is. They didn't say what it was or was not, because they don't know. At least that's what sources who know said around noon.

The "noted engine builder speaking confidentially" who said oil couldn't get into the intake was either a liar or a fool. All you have to do is have the intake gasket leak. Vacuum in the intake (and there is PLENTY of vacuum in a plate engine) will suck plenty of oil into the intake.

It was probably somebody working for Roush, since Roush has been crying about Toyota for years. Hell Roush has been crying about EVERYTHING for DECADES, back to when he was a crybaby in NHRA. Roush cried about Toyota spending money to buy wins, and then he went and offered Waltrip's employee (Larry Carter, crew chief for the 00 car) TRIPLE the salary to come to work for Roush, and got him to leave MWR.

Now, as to what the substance "could" be, there are any number of chemicals that add oxygen that "could" have been put in there. Plain old Sterno is one. The problem is, they took that manifold, allowed another manifold they inspected to be installed, allowed the car to qualify, and then immediately impounded the car, finding the same stuff in the manifold. So whatever was in there got in there from the engine running, and was not put in there before it was started. Besides, the 55 car wasn't even all that fast, although it would have qualified easily before the "top 35" rule. The 00 car from the same team was faster.

[nirvana]

I was watching Nascar Now and the guy said that Nascar confirmed it wasn't oil, just hearsay though.  They also said the actual tear down will begin tomorrow and they shipped the manifold off to some official lab to analyze it.  I guess Chad Knaus learned his lesson from last year.

[eskimo2]

I’m not sure why all that I just read is so darned important, but if drilling a couple of little holes in my trunk will make my car go faster, I’m getting my drill now.

[Debonair]

WEP

[john9001]

having been involved in racing i know that racers will do anything to gain a edge, and i mean ANYTHING if they think they can get away with it, they study the rule book looking for loopholes.

[lasersailor184]

Originally posted by john9001
having been involved in racing i know that racers will do anything to gain a edge, and i mean ANYTHING if they think they can get away with it, they study the rule book looking for loopholes.

Welcome to professioinal sports.  


There's a big hoopla in the sailing world.  USA's prized woman Laser sailor is constantly pushing the limits of rule 42.  Rule 42 pretty much says no excessive pumping of the sails or sculling (which gives you an advantage).  She's been completely kicked out of two entire big events for violating the rule 3x at each regatta.

Just imagine what she got away with.

[Debonair]

is that stuff on TV?

[Dago]

Originally posted by Debonair
WEP

[rpm]

Virgil, I have'nt heard that story about a manifold swap. What I heard was they made him swap engines, impounded the old engine then allowed him to qualify. Just saw Mike Helton on SPEED, he says it's still under investigation.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Originally posted by rpm
Virgil, I have'nt heard that story about a manifold swap. What I heard was they made him swap engines, impounded the old engine then allowed him to qualify. Just saw Mike Helton on SPEED, he says it's still under investigation.

The manifold swap story is even on the NASCAR website.

The substance was found during pre-qualifying inspection, the manifold swap took place in the engine inspection room in the barn, and NASCAR took immediate possession of the first intake. The car went out and qualified in its scheduled qualifying position, and then NASCAR found the same stuff in the intake and impounded the whole car.

NASCAR has had the whole car at least 48 hours, if they haven't found anything by now, they aren't going to. Toyota builds the engines, by the way. Much like the old days where Holman and Moody used to build ALL the engines for Ford, Toyota builds ALL the engines for the Toyota teams, you can't even buy parts. I somehow doubt Toyota is going to build a cheated up engine, and I doubt MWR is so stupid as to try an obvious cheat. I could be wrong, it won't be the first time.

I'd say most of the big dust up is because Jack Roush is crying so loud and so often about Toyota that NASCAR figures they have to make it as hard on Toyota teams as possible, so crybaby Jack won't cry favoritism. NASCAR is as likely to make Jack Roush happy as Bush is to make Pelosi happy. Not at all. Now that Jack's boys have been busted for obvious cheating, NASCAR has to "do something" to Toyota over anything that even looks like it might be something questionable. Roush eventually ruins every racing series he gets involved in if they don't run him out.

[Red Tail 444]

It was Strerno

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

I stand corrected. It appears that the crew chief for the 55 car has been busted, indefinite suspension, Toyota may have MWR fire him. Looks like the operations manager for MWR, Bobby Kennedy, is going to take some of the rap as well. Word is there's going to be a $100K fine and 100 points, both owner and driver. Missing practice will probably cost the 55 car any chance at making the Daytona 500, especially since they'll be using a back up car for the 00 team, and starting in the rear. I doubt Michael Waltrip or Bobby Kennedy knew what the crew chief was doing. Neither is so stupid as to risk getting busted by NASCAR, since MWR is really the flagship team for Toyota. The crew chief hasn't been at MWR that long, and may not be there at all after this.

[nirvana]

"Oops"?

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Originally posted by nirvana
"Oops"?

No, not an "oops". David Hyder will likely lose his job over this one, and he deserves to.  He did it on purpose, and most likely (almost certainly)without consulting Bobby Kennedy or Michael Waltrip. It's a major strain on MWR's relationship with NASCAR and Toyota. it was really stupid anyway, since they weren't going to make the field on speed, there was nothing at all to be gained by trying to cheat. They were going to have to race their way in to the field. All Hyder managed to do is to cost them practice time, get them sent to the back of the field to start the race, and make NASCAR look at them for even the slightest marginal violation.