Toyota Not Happy
Michael Waltrip got a vote of confidence from Toyota President Jim Aust on Wednesday after Waltrip's team received the stiffest monetary fine in NASCAR history. NASCAR hammered Michael Waltrip Racing with a $100,000 fine, a 100-point deduction, and and the sanctioning body indefinitely suspended crew chief David Hyder and vice president of competition Bobby Kennedy for an illegal substance found in the intake manifold before and after qualifying Sunday.
Waltrip owns three Toyotas in the manufacturer's entry into Nextel Cup this year, and Toyota Racing Development President Jim Aust called it an "embarrassment" for Toyota and the team.
"We will continue on with our relationship with Michael," Aust said following the announcement of the penalties. "This is not the way you want to enter the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series by any means. ... We'll continue to work with the organization in hopes that they find the resolution to the problem, and I think they'll be stronger because of it."
Waltrip, who was not available for comment, was not suspended and will get to drive in the 150-mile qualifier Thursday to try to make the Daytona 500. He must do it in a backup car that has yet to pass inspection, and unlike a team that has been in a crash, NASCAR will not give the team extra time to get the car ready. Aust said Waltrip is trying to figure out what happened and now must face the uphill battle of trying to make the 500 without a practice lap in his car.
"Michael is a confident guy - he's going to do the best he can," Aust said. "They are still working on trying to get the car through inspection, so that's the first of his concerns. He certainly is not going to be at the same advantage as everybody else has had that has had all the track time. I believe he is going to give it the best shot that he can."
Aust said although teams get their engines from TRD, it is possible for a team to tamper with the fuel system. NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said that this was a team issue and not a Toyota issue. Pemberton also said the substance was not oil, as Waltrip had contended Sunday. Pemberton said the substance was found in the both manifolds, the one NASCAR took before qualifying and the one with which Waltrip qualified.(Scene Daily)
Michael Waltrip got a vote of confidence from Toyota President Jim Aust on Wednesday after Waltrip's team received the stiffest monetary fine in NASCAR history. NASCAR hammered Michael Waltrip Racing with a $100,000 fine, a 100-point deduction, and and the sanctioning body indefinitely suspended crew chief David Hyder and vice president of competition Bobby Kennedy for an illegal substance found in the intake manifold before and after qualifying Sunday.
Waltrip owns three Toyotas in the manufacturer's entry into Nextel Cup this year, and Toyota Racing Development President Jim Aust called it an "embarrassment" for Toyota and the team.
"We will continue on with our relationship with Michael," Aust said following the announcement of the penalties. "This is not the way you want to enter the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series by any means. ... We'll continue to work with the organization in hopes that they find the resolution to the problem, and I think they'll be stronger because of it."
Waltrip, who was not available for comment, was not suspended and will get to drive in the 150-mile qualifier Thursday to try to make the Daytona 500. He must do it in a backup car that has yet to pass inspection, and unlike a team that has been in a crash, NASCAR will not give the team extra time to get the car ready. Aust said Waltrip is trying to figure out what happened and now must face the uphill battle of trying to make the 500 without a practice lap in his car.
"Michael is a confident guy - he's going to do the best he can," Aust said. "They are still working on trying to get the car through inspection, so that's the first of his concerns. He certainly is not going to be at the same advantage as everybody else has had that has had all the track time. I believe he is going to give it the best shot that he can."
Aust said although teams get their engines from TRD, it is possible for a team to tamper with the fuel system. NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said that this was a team issue and not a Toyota issue. Pemberton also said the substance was not oil, as Waltrip had contended Sunday. Pemberton said the substance was found in the both manifolds, the one NASCAR took before qualifying and the one with which Waltrip qualified.(Scene Daily)
