Toyota continuing to slide

buckaroo

buckaroo

Here kitty, kitty, kitty
Joined
Nov 14, 2002
Messages
10,767
Points
513
Location
Winston Salem, NC
Looks like DJ is on his way to his last race in three more weeks unless they pick it up. He's not been able to finish high enough in the races to keep him in the top 35, so those provisionals won't be there and he's only got three more past champ provs to use. Blaney, the best of the Toyotas, is qualifying well, but his finishes are even worse than DJ's and unless he finishes a race, he hasn't a chance to make the top 35.

I'm still thinking that NASCAR will give the Toyota teams another race or two before they step in and do something that will help them. I just don't think they, NASCAR, thought that it would take this long.
 
Yeah, it's not looking so hot for them so far, just as I predicted. I think they won't be competitive until they get a significant team with a significant driver.
 
Toyota's problem might not all be with engines and getting out horsepowered. Most of it might be the drivers they signed. They have a past his prime Dale Jarrett, a 3-race winner in Mikey Waltrip, Dave Blaney, Brian Vickers, David Reuitimann, AJ Allmendinger with no stock car experience, and Jeremy Mayfield. None of those drivers are capable of winning 5 or more races a year or Cup contenders. I'd like to see how they'd run if they had someone like Stewart, Kenseth, or Harvick signed.
 
MRM said:
Toyota's problem might not all be with engines and getting out horsepowered. Most of it might be the drivers they signed. They have a past his prime Dale Jarrett, a 3-race winner in Mikey Waltrip, Dave Blaney, Brian Vickers, David Reuitimann, AJ Allmendinger with no stock car experience, and Jeremy Mayfield. None of those drivers are capable of winning 5 or more races a year or Cup contenders. I'd like to see how they'd run if they had someone like Stewart, Kenseth, or Harvick signed.
Click to expand...


Mayfield finished in the top 10 in points three different years.
 
...MRM is right. I think one of the biggest problems is they didn't sign any star drivers. DJ is great, but like MRM said, maybe a little past his prime, & Mike is a star, but only in commercials. The rest have only proven to be mediocre...which really isn't BAD, but none of them would have been championship contenters even IF they had stayed with last years teams.

A couple a tweeks here and there and a couple of awesome drivers is what Toyota needs now.
 
C'mon guys, not a capable driver in the bunch? It ain't the driver, it's the car, plain and simple. The driver can just put the car in the best of places and win. I give you Dave Blaney for instance. He is capable of qualifying the car good enough, but just isn't good enough to get the finishes they need. DJ past his prime? Go suck an egg. He's as good a driver as he has ever been. I suppose that you all probably thought Mark Martin was past his prime. I'm sure that Jack Roush probably thought it! :) What I've read is that the engine is plenty strong and they have a lot of down force, but it's the other aerodynamics that the car lacks. Think about this for a second if you will. Remember a couple of years ago when one Ryan Newman set the world on fire with his qualifying? His first couple of years were pretty good for him, right? Last year Ryan seemed like a no-show and this year might just be his comeback year. So what happened? He's got a new CC and they are trying to work it all out. The "T" teams are all new and most of the guys have never worked together. In reality I think that they will come together and be competitive teams, but there might be some tweaking along the way. That is what I've been asking, how long before they do that.

I can see there are plenty of people who obviously are opposed to Toyota entering NASCAR. I'll keep my opinons to myself on that, but all I'll ask of those who don't want them here is this...WHY? If it's only because of the name, then so be it. You are obviously what the Dems would call a racist. But wait, there are those from that side of the aisle who still don't want to see "T" on the scene. Just remember this, there are more totally made in the US Toyotas than there are Ford cars, Cheby cars, and Dodge cars. So don't give me this foreign car crap. It ain't that, it's the name. Then I'll ask, how many of those people drive foreign cars? :) I, one of those who say bring all makes along, own three automobiles, all three American brands, but probably none made here in the US (I see on the dash words like SI SI, and it isn't Sports Illistrated. And have you ever heard a North Dakota accent eh? We ain't talking ND here either...eh!) :)
 
It's the car (new), the engine (new), the team (newly working together) and the driver's environment (altogether new trying to communicate with a new team about a new car). At this level of racing there is no way a completely new manufacturer with a new product, managed and run by a newly assembled crew is going to come in here and compete with the likes of the teams and drivers that have dominated this sport as of late.
 
BobbyFord said:
It's the car (new), the engine (new), the team (newly working together) and the driver's environment (altogether new trying to communicate with a new team about a new car). At this level of racing there is no way a completely new manufacturer with a new product, managed and run by a newly assembled crew is going to come in here and compete with the likes of the teams and drivers that have dominated this sport as of late.
Click to expand...


Dodge did the same thing. They had more success than Toyota.
 
buckaroo said:
C'mon guys, not a capable driver in the bunch? It ain't the driver, it's the car, plain and simple. The driver can just put the car in the best of places and win. I give you Dave Blaney for instance. He is capable of qualifying the car good enough, but just isn't good enough to get the finishes they need. DJ past his prime? Go suck an egg. He's as good a driver as he has ever been. I suppose that you all probably thought Mark Martin was past his prime. I'm sure that Jack Roush probably thought it! :) What I've read is that the engine is plenty strong and they have a lot of down force, but it's the other aerodynamics that the car lacks. Think about this for a second if you will. Remember a couple of years ago when one Ryan Newman set the world on fire with his qualifying? His first couple of years were pretty good for him, right? Last year Ryan seemed like a no-show and this year might just be his comeback year. So what happened? He's got a new CC and they are trying to work it all out. The "T" teams are all new and most of the guys have never worked together. In reality I think that they will come together and be competitive teams, but there might be some tweaking along the way. That is what I've been asking, how long before they do that.

I can see there are plenty of people who obviously are opposed to Toyota entering NASCAR. I'll keep my opinons to myself on that, but all I'll ask of those who don't want them here is this...WHY? If it's only because of the name, then so be it. You are obviously what the Dems would call a racist. But wait, there are those from that side of the aisle who still don't want to see "T" on the scene. Just remember this, there are more totally made in the US Toyotas than there are Ford cars, Cheby cars, and Dodge cars. So don't give me this foreign car crap. It ain't that, it's the name. Then I'll ask, how many of those people drive foreign cars? :) I, one of those who say bring all makes along, own three automobiles, all three American brands, but probably none made here in the US (I see on the dash words like SI SI, and it isn't Sports Illistrated. And have you ever heard a North Dakota accent eh? We ain't talking ND here either...eh!) :)
Click to expand...
monte carlo: canada
dodge charger: mexico
ford fusion: mexico also i believe
toyota: this place called the united states.
 
Buck what did you expect Toyota to do? Win Daytona? Have all their cars in the top 15? It is really early in the season and already everyone is whispering about their performance. I think that by mid season they will start to show good progress. I'll also stick by my prediction i made last year that MWR will put a car in victory lane. I use the CTS as a good example of Toyotas' capabilities, a lot has to come together, and it has been only 3 races . Already people seem to think Toyota is a failure, which gives the Toyota haters fuel for their hatered. I beleive it won't be long before Toyota is kicking Chevys', Fords', and Dodges' butts all ove the race track. Judging them by using three races as a benchmark is hardly fair.
 

Attachments

  • nissan (3).jpg
    nissan (3).jpg
    64.2 KB · Views: 151
Mopardh9 said:
MWR will put a car in victory lane. I use the CTS as a good example of Toyotas' capabilities, a lot has to come together, and it has been only 3 races . Already people seem to think Toyota is a failure, which gives the Toyota haters fuel for their hatered. I beleive it won't be long before Toyota is kicking Chevys', Fords', and Dodges' butts all ove the race track. Judging them by using three races as a benchmark is hardly fair.
Click to expand...

Toyota will be a force someday...they currently have no teams with good enough drivers to win. IF MW ever makes a race he may MIGHTwin a PLATE RACE. MWR may have what it takes to win a race but they need to get into the show and get BETTER DRIVERS. As far as Red Bull Racing and BD racing........I dunno

If this isn't a motely crew I don't know what is.
Toyota drivers, Reutimann, Blaney, Mayfield, Jarrett, Waltrip, Vickers, Allmendinger and a few Part timers.
 
BobbyFord said:
Mayfield finished in the top 10 in points three different years.
Click to expand...

So has Morgan Shepherd. Mayfield is the best of the bunch and he's no world beater. He'll never come in and win 5-6 races a year and win a title, he wouldn't even do that driving for Hendrick or Roush. It's nothing against them. But look at who they signed and where they were last year.
 
There is nothing wrong with their drivers............and please give Michael a rest

The problems with their cars arent engine or driver related IMHO

It would appear that they havent figured out the whole ...Aerodynamics / downforce / wedge /trackbar adjustments thing:D

It certainly appears to be a car handling problem .........they are as Mikey said ...."Crazy loose"
 
Clutch, that pretty much sums up an article in today's paper about Toyota. And I too agree that the drivers aren't the problem. I can't believe so many people believe that DJ is all washed up. :rolleyes: While he is the only champ from the bunch, the other guys are capable of winning races. But more than that, they are capable of having good finishes.
 
buckaroo said:
Clutch, that pretty much sums up an article in today's paper about Toyota. And I too agree that the drivers aren't the problem. I can't believe so many people believe that DJ is all washed up. :rolleyes: While he is the only champ from the bunch, the other guys are capable of winning races. But more than that, they are capable of having good finishes.
Click to expand...

I just can't agree...

It's not like all these drivers came from 2nd rate teams last year and can blame their mediocre performance on under-funding etc.

These guys simply aren't Tony Jimmie Dale (either one) Jeff (either one) Matt or even Kevin!

They just aren't as good. <period>

This isn't opinion, there are plenty of #'s out there showing they are middle of the pack (or worse) kind drivers.
 
Bristol is coming and I'm sure that the Toyotas cant wait

........You may see a few qualify :growl:
 
My opinion? Toyota's problem are the drivers. In my opinion, Vickers is the best of the bunch that can get it done on a consistent basis, problem is he has no owner points to fall back on. Jarrett is done. Waltrip is garbage. Mayfield, eh. Blaney can get it done, but he has had some bad luck these first three races.
 
RobbyG Fan said:
Blaney can get it done, but he has had some bad luck these first three races.
Click to expand...

Blaney is the only one to qualify on time for all of the races so far. Vickers has qualified for one race, and the rest haven't done squat. And, then there is DJ using the Champion's Provisional, which will soon run out. I was really expecting Toyota to do a little better than this.
 
Once again Michael says that the problem with the Toyotas is Aerodynamics. They have been testing at Kentucky and Rockingham speedways on the aero-downforce cars. The first race for that car will be at Texas. Also, Michael says that normally, he's done very well at Atlanta and likes that track. 7th and 11th in '05, but not so well last year. Something I see as an up and coming problem for a few teams will be later in the year when the Toyotas are able to get things cooking better. Those teams that have been floating by in 36th and above in points will not have it so easy to make the races. That's when there really be qualifying in qualifying. Look for those teams to step up their pace as soon as possible to make sure they are in the top 35.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom