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Is Toyota Stuck In First Gear With NASCAR?
There is no more fear and loathing of Toyota in Nextel Cup. Well, at least there's no fear. Some loathing probably still exists.

Two months into the automaker's first season as part of NASCAR's premier circuit, Toyota has failed to make a major impact on the track. After six races, none of its teams was in the top 35 in points.

There are two ways to look at this. One, Toyota's debut has been a huge disaster. It may have plants in the U.S., but can it truly be considered an American car company if it isn't competitive in NASCAR's top series? Especially considering the money and technology it's supposedly throwing at it.

The other view is that Toyota is an expansion manufacturer competing with two expansion teams (Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull) and one team that has had few great days (Bill Davis Racing), so some growing pains are inevitable.

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Is Toyota Stuck In First Gear With NASCAR?



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kart1kart1 - 4/9/2007 4:37:56 PM
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Uh yeah, for a brand new manufacturer to enter a racing series takes time. Whether Toyota dominates is to be seen, but we should wait more than six races before making conclusion.

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Agent009Agent009 - 4/9/2007 4:55:53 PMView My AgentSpace
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The speculation stems from their relative success in the Craftsman Series where they placed 4 times in the first season. They basically came in and over ran the others with a huge budget.

Historically Toyota factory teams have done well when their huge budgets allow them the luxury of the best.

When the odds are more equal as far as budgets are concerned then the effort becomes more on the engineers and teams than the money. Nextel racing like F1 has huge budgets and is a much harder nut to crack.



DarkOneForceDarkOneForce - 4/9/2007 6:09:59 PM
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thing is that in F1 they haven't done a thing.
Now there is potential as Williams have shown with TF1 own engine.

As for Nascar, on budgets it's peanuts compared to F1.

so we'll see.


EL34EL34 - 4/9/2007 6:31:53 PM
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"Is Toyota Stuck In First Gear With NASCAR?"

And, why did Toyota put self-parking in their NASCARS's?

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jt716jt716 - 4/9/2007 7:08:07 PMView My AgentSpace
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LOL..well time is what toyota need we will see soon if they r stuck in first gear

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MookGmbHMookGmbH - 4/9/2007 7:51:47 PMView My AgentSpace
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Props to DarkOneForce for knowing his F1 dealio...

The customer Toyota cars beat the hell out of the Works cars in Malaysia last weekend...

Just a thought...Does anyone on this forum care about NASCAR anyway? Please I would like to hear why this thread exists. Do I really have to pull out the trump card on this one...

BOO to Mclaren Mercedes... And Massa you understeered your way off the podium...

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matt635matt635 - 4/10/2007 9:30:05 AM
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Mook, as with most motorsports - unless you have someone to support they can be quite boring. I started watching NASCAR when JPM announced he was going there, and I've really gotten in to it.

I think the treatment Toyota recieved from fans was shocking and I'd like to see them more competitive, this is only their 1st season in Cup racing so we shouldn't judge to harshly. Theres a lot of luck in NASCAR, toyota just need a lucky break and they should be able to get a car in the top 10 regularly.


1970toyotamarc1970toyotamarc - 4/9/2007 7:55:48 PM
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Toyota entered three cars in the NASCAR Busch race this weekend. They placed second, third and fourth. If it wasnt for that damn Carl Edwards....

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SupraNeverBackSupraNeverBack - 4/9/2007 8:50:00 PM
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After winning the first 4 races in Truck series, Toyota teams get this:

"In a technical bulletin issued this week, NASCAR has ordered Toyota Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series teams to use a different intake manifold in an effort to "level the playing field" with other manufacturers. Busch Series Director Joe Balash said NASCAR informed the teams of the switch during the test at Richmond International Raceway last week. The sanctioning body has been working with Toyota officials "for a while" as NASCAR conducted chassis dynamometer tests this season. The manifold was declared legal before the season, but tests have shown it gives Toyota teams a horsepower advantage. The new intake reduces horsepower, Balash said. "It does reduce the horsepower a little bit in the engine and bring it more within where we are with the other engines in the series." One of the Camrys tested on NASCAR's chassis dyno was Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 99 driven by David Reutimann. Sources indicated Reutimann's car registered around 15 more horsepower than any other model. Crew chief Jerry Baxter said the team took Reutimann's Nasvhille car to High Point, N.C. earlier this week as Toyota Racing Development officials worked with the new manifold. Baxter said the new engine package was close to the old one. (Scene Daily) (04-07-07)"


Agent009Agent009 - 4/10/2007 12:47:34 PMView My AgentSpace
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That is pretty common to restrict a winning make to level the field.


EL34EL34 - 4/9/2007 11:59:11 PM
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Does the Toyota NASCAR have an 8 speed automatic?

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enthusiastx11enthusiastx11 - 4/10/2007 2:18:36 AM
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it must be an 8-speed direct sport shift automatic like in the IS-F

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rockerrocker - 4/10/2007 9:55:40 AM
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You have to wonder about management when they give a "TEAM" to Michael Waltrip. Different engines are used in the Cup than in the Busch series and the truck series. Most of the big boys did not race in Nashville so it could have something to do with the drivers this past weekend. Also in the Truck series, success there does not always translate to success in the Cup series, ask Jack Sprague, Ted Musgrave, Todd Bodine, etc.

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nembogtnembogt - 4/11/2007 12:27:41 AM
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actually, they have an 8-speed paddle shifted, twin turbo 4 banger with 20in rims. lets not for get the stupid veilside kit with xeons!

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rockerrocker - 4/11/2007 9:29:04 AM
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Another embarrassment for Toyota Racing, Waltrip got busted for reckless driving after he slammed into a tree near his home. Of course, they always say that accidents happen within in 5 miles of your home.

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austintysonaustintyson - 4/13/2007 7:54:58 AM
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Lets see. They are new to the race. Its going to take a while to see if they will make it.. then again all those cars look alike. In a year or two they will probably be as good as everyone else. Oh and the fact that Nascar fans might not expect them as an American comany should be noted. They are not a American company. They might produce cars here but they are not based out of the USA. SO they are not a American company. So even if it wins the title the next 10 years in a row wont change the fact they are not an American company. But really we are 2 months into the season, does that mean if your not in the top three you should just give up on the season? The season is young and there is a hole lot of racing left. I would hope Toyota would know that its first year is a learning year. I would hope after 2 months they wouldn't be going, we are not winning, so lets quit.

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AllosaurAllosaur - 4/13/2007 4:15:00 PM
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austintyson: Your comments are rather skewed and silly in so many ways (and a spelling/grammatical lesson would help, too.)

The article originator presents two options as they see them. The latter option ("Toyota is an expansion manufacturer competing with two expansion teams (Michael Waltrip Racing and Team Red Bull) and one team that has had few great days (Bill Davis Racing), so some growing pains are inevitable") is the only accurate one.

As far as the American company thing, what difference does it make when the origins of the company are more important than the makes of the actual cars that these "stock cars" are supposed to represent?

In this light, the ONLY American car in the series is the Camry!

While the passenger-car version of the Toyota Camry is made in the United States, the streetgoing version of the model Ford races, the Fusion, is made in Mexico. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Impala and the Dodge Charger are made in Canada.

None of those above are providing jobs to Americans.

So, where the company is based is irrelevant. If that's the case, then the Dodge Avenger, while made in the USA, has had Mitsubishi engines for most of its life and is a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai, but is owned by Mercedes, is not an American company either!










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