I don’t know if this was already posted in here but I found it in the lounge.
Only 650 hp motors? The next ZL1 may not be far behind that. How do they expect to win against the American Cars making around 800hp?

http://www.toyota.com/motorsports/dash/specs.html

 

The vette may weigh as much as 400 lbs less too

 

Oh they will likely get clobbered for a while, but money talks.
Just like the other shops, all they have to do is offer the right money, and current Ford, GM, and Dodge team members will jump to their side taking all the little secrets with them. It happens now among the existing teams.

What scares me is what they will do once they have all our secrets...

The other thing is that Billy-Bob and Jimmy-Joe have no conscience whatsover right now - They pull for John Wood or Carl Edwards in the Jack Roush Ford Racing trucks, but they drove to the race and tailgated in their Toyota SR-5 4x4 with 33.5x10.5 Mudders and 4" lift kit.
What will these guys do when Toyota starts racing...

 

You have to remember thats the Nascar Truck series specs. they don;t run 800hp in Trucks like they do in Cup.

 

NASCAR ain't rocket science.

 

Beg to differ.
On a macro scale - NO.
On a micro scale is where it is all happening.
These guys are using as many as 7 different alloys in the heads on these cars. High-temp alloys for valve seats and valve coatings. Bizzarre and unusual dual valve spring setups to handle the high RPMs for long periods. Exotic spring materials.

Did you know they custom make their own camshafts in-house?
They take a basic bumpstick and grind out a groove in the middle of each lobe, then flux, spray, or cast in their own alloy to fill the groove back up. Then they custom grind their own unique profile on the lobe, and also put a "lay" on the lobe to ensure the lifter is rotated as the cam lobe goes around - do distribute wear and load, and to provide maximum lift over longer life (this design does not wear or "erode" as quickly as a stock lobe design).

I could go on all day - these guys have spent years trying to get an upper hand on performance - given a 50-year-old basis to work with.

No, they don't get to use OBD's and EEC's, EFI, and other moder technologies - and I don't agree with that either. But nonetheless, these NASCAR teams have some HELLA impressive engine programs and technology that allow them to run 7000-9000 RPMs for 5 hours without failures.

MARK MY WORDS - Toyota will DNF many races due to mechanical failures. It happens to all newcomers. What scares me is when engine builders from domestic teams take these secret alloys and treatment technologies to Toyota teams for a few $ more in salary. That's when Toyota will become competitive, and likely take it to the next level on us to boot.

 

Cup cars are about 750hp. 600hp is probably fine for the truck series, which is where Yota is going to begin. The engine rules differ on compression ratios and max carb sizes between truck, busch and Winston/Nextel cup.

Ford just got a new head approved for '04 in Cup, they were 30-40 hp down compared to Dodge and GM cars, should put everybody on a level field again, which is what NASCAR wants...even if it has destroyed any manufacturer advantage/competition.

 

Yup.. what proudpony said.. Like all racing, you have to work within (and sometimes stretch) the rules and specs.. and discover the "secrets" that come out of the environment..


Toyota is aiming to take over the world.

 

That's the same thing I posted in the lounge. And know this as well, teams aren't going to tell you what kinda HP they have. They want everyone to think they have less. So if they say 650, wouldn't surprise me if they really have closer to 700. The Cup guys use 750-800 as a generic figure. I'm sure there are a few teams putting out close to 850, but if everyone thinks they have an advantage, everyone else will be crying to NASCAR about it. It's very political in NASCAR.

I'm sure Toyota will do fine in the Truck series. They will fund their teams heavily. Remember, the trucks are 2 steps below Cup, where the big money is. Rosch, Hendricks, Childress (used to) use it as a farm league. They don't use the huge money (comparatively) in that series. They are trying to mold drivers and crews to be the next Cup stars. The other teams really just scape by. They would be in Cup or even Busch if they could afford it, but can't so they do the truck deal. Toyota is ramping up there NASCAR effort to be in Cup, and will pour money into it. Wouldn't surprise me if Toyota wins one of the first 5 races they enter.

 

Actually Nascar put the 20, 97, 9 and some others on the dyno after the Phoenix race. Stewarts car put down 742 and was the most of the bunch. Busch's ford was only putting down 704 or so. Those were the high and low..but most were closer to the 740 than 700.

www.jayski.com

 

Toyota has the money$$ Just look at who they have now...Darrel Waltrip and Larry Mac now wear Toyota Jackets and shirtsTalk about bringing the experience and knowledge in!! whats next?

 

I go on Jayski everyday too! I thought Stewarts car put down 8something down. Maybe someone was guessing how much it was at the crank? I can't remember where I saw it now?

 

Didn't Waltrip have a Toyota dealership in Nashville? That would explain alot. I'm sure Toyota is just started the cash throwing!!

 

Yeah Dax, it didn't even occur to me those were obviously rear wheel numbers. those cars run a water pump, power steering and an oil pump drive belt and alternator...assuming 15% losses then you're looking at 870+ hp.

Darrell's dealership is Honda/Volvo and its in Franklin, TN, about 15 miles south of Nashville proper. He's very active in the local promotion of it, i.e. radio and TV spots.

 

Ok, found it.

Here's the link.

I wonder how effecient those drivelines are? Wonder if 15% is right or is it less with these cars?