Testing Teams

SlicedBread22

SlicedBread22

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So I've been going through some articles around the inter web and found a couple of thing mentioning this.

The way to keep up with the Joneses these days is by having a “test team” It’s a process that’s irked Matt Kenseth, to the point he called out Michael McDowell and small-time Leavine Family Racing. The No. 95 car, who receives chassis and engines from Penske Racing has been running the distance this year after start-and-parking for most of 2013. However, their partnership likely comes with a benefit to both sides: Penske gets to use their new “client” as a place to experiment with setups, engines, and feedback to make their team better.
“Without opening a can of worms, it’s my understanding that they (Team Penske) got to do a lot of testing,” Kenseth said over the weekend. “I think they’ve been to all three tracks with their ‘satellite teams’ – Michael McDowell…”

Hendrick Motorsports/Stewart-Haas Racing partnership: 8 cars
Richard Childress Racing: 3 cars in main team plus 3 “satellites” (JTG Daugherty, Germain, and Furniture Row)
Roush Fenway Racing/Richard Petty Motorsports partnership: 5 cars, plus 1 “satellite” (Wood Brothers)
Penske Racing (connected in part to the two teams above): 2 cars, plus 1 “satellite” (Leavine Family Racing)

From here: http://www.frontstretch.com/tbowles/44859/

There is some more about it here(not much): http://www.freep.com/article/20140318/SPORTS16/303180134/nascar-ford-motor-company



Im sure that this has been a factor for years. But I think the fact that the Fords now actually have a bigger camp than HMS does heavily attributes to the success they've seen this season so far.

I never thought about it much but with RCR doing their own engines and HMS sharing with SHR that leaves 9 Roush/Yates engines on the track compared to 8 HMS engines and only 6 RCR engines.

All that paired with a team that knows they're not running for a championship and has the same testing limits as the big teams seems to be a recipe for early success.. I think this has to be a big part of why The Captain made the switch to Ford.

Do team orders count when it's not race day? I think not. Looks like this "One Ford" thing is starting to pay off..... Crafty bunch of folks I'd say...
 
It doesn't say how many TRD engines are in the field but I think it's just 3 JGR and 2(.5?) MWR... and no 'satellite teams' I guess. That's why Kenseth is upset.
 
JGR and/or MWR should try to partner up with someone like Swan or BK as a satellite. Hendrick Motorsports is like a 20-car operation when you factor in the satellite teams and all the teams they provide engines to. The more resources, the better.
 
EGR and HScott Motorsports also run Hendrick engines.

After JGR and MWR the other Toyotas run junk from Triad or Race Engines Plus so I can see how they may be disadvantaged in testing and experimenting.
 
I see people on facebook calling this cheating on Penske's part and saying they should be penalized.. LMFAO This was my exact response to them....

It's not illegal to share information. No issue... Leavine Family Racing now buys some parts from Penske racing. They are now able to run full races instead of being a start and park. In exchange they share information with Penske from their tests. Whether they are doing the test directly at the will of Penske doesn't really matter. It benefits both teams and LFR knows they are not a championship contending team, the are just in the first season of not being a start and park. It benefits both teams.

Someone said "it's all about money"...

I said ..

Yup.. LFR now makes more because they finish races. They use that money to buy better parts.. to make more money. That's how teams become competitive... Id bet when Penske goes to the test they'll share some info with LFR... but I bet you all wont be mad if you see Michael McDowell become a top 20 car right? What's the difference?
 
JTG Daugherty was operating with Waltrip equipment for awhile but don't know why they moved on. The smaller teams go where the best deal is.
 
Zerkfitting said:
JTG Daugherty was operating with Waltrip equipment for awhile but don't know why they moved on. The smaller teams go where the best deal is.
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The MWR cheating scandals probably had something to do with their changing venues also.
 
Front Row Motorsports is also under the Ford banner. After the radio comments from Richmond last year, it's pretty obvious Penske and FRM have some sort of technical alliance or working relationship.

I believe it was Gilliland's CC who said something like "Travis knows what I want" in reference to Travis Giesler the competition director at Penske, when Penkse was asking Gilliand to slow down and let Logano pass. So it's clear Penske is using their deep pockets to court some smaller teams to help them out. Why wouldn't they though?

This is all sour grapes from Kenseth, and it's surprising to hear it from him. I would have expected this from Kyle or Denny but not Matt. JGR has done a lot of great things in this sport, they might be the best in the biz at selling sponsorship. However their failure to align themselves with smaller teams for the purposes of testing might be something that's caught up to them. Their relationship with MWR should be mutually beneficial but I'm not sure how much those two teams are really sharing. Kenseth sure wasn't too concerned about these smaller teams when he was wining 7 races last year.
 
3wideinturn1 said:
Front Row Motorsports is also under the Ford banner. After the radio comments from Richmond last year, it's pretty obvious Penske and FRM have some sort of technical alliance or working relationship.

I believe it was Gilliland's CC who said something like "Travis knows what I want" in reference to Travis Giesler the competition director at Penske, when Penkse was asking Gilliand to slow down and let Logano pass. So it's clear Penske is using their deep pockets to court some smaller teams to help them out. Why wouldn't they though?

This is all sour grapes from Kenseth, and it's surprising to hear it from him. I would have expected this from Kyle or Denny but not Matt. JGR has done a lot of great things in this sport, they might be the best in the biz at selling sponsorship. However their failure to align themselves with smaller teams for the purposes of testing might be something that's caught up to them. Their relationship with MWR should be mutually beneficial but I'm not sure how much those two teams are really sharing. Kenseth sure wasn't too concerned about these smaller teams when he was wining 7 races last year.
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Funny how these things only become a problem for some when they are giving the competition an advantage.
 
What I want to know is, does Penske share what they learn with LFR, or is better parts all they get for their cooperation? Parts can only help so much. If you don't know how to apply the knowledge that you have helped gather, you will be better but not competitive. I would hope the knowledge goes both ways, regardless of who the parent team is.
 
penske has long been on an island. They have very rarely leased engines when they made them and this is the first I have heard of them working with another team. They have always been kinda a secretive proprietary organization. I think this has hurt them. They only have the feedback of 2 drivers basically. They also run ALOT of new cars I always wondered what happened to the old ones, levine appears to be buying some now.
 
hidesert cowboy said:
penske has long been on an island. They have very rarely leased engines when they made them and this is the first I have heard of them working with another team. They have always been kinda a secretive proprietary organization. I think this has hurt them. They only have the feedback of 2 drivers basically. They also run ALOT of new cars I always wondered what happened to the old ones, levine appears to be buying some now.
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Until very recently , I don't think the Penske teams ever shared information with 'each other ' . I see Joey and Brad as the best thing that ever happened to Penske . Definitely more championships to come . Rusty who?
 
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