Statement from TRD,
U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development)April 24, 2013
"During
NASCAR's routine post-race tear down of Matt Kenseth's race-winning car and
engine from
Kansas Speedway, one of our engine connecting rods weighed in approximately
three grams under
the legal minimum weight of 525 grams.
None of the other seven connecting rods were found to
be under the minimum weight.
We take
full responsibility for this issue with the engine used by the
No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team this past
Sunday in Kansas -- JGR is not involved in the process
of selecting parts or assembling the Cup Series engines. It was a simple oversight on TRD's part
and there was no intent to deceive, or to gain any type of competitive
advantage.
Toyota is a company
that was built on integrity, and that remains one of the guiding principles of
the company.
The
goal of TRD has always been -- and will continue to be -- to build
high-performance engines that
are reliable, durable and powerful, and within the guidelines established by
NASCAR."
Lee White
President
T.R.D., U.S.A. (Toyota
Racing Development)
So is TRD gonna pick up the tab for the fine?
ReplyDelete50 points!!! That's a kick in the teeth!!! Wow!
ReplyDeletedave i heard the guys on your show today talking about balance on the engine to answer how that worked in simple terms they are externaly balanced with each idividual rod much more precise hope that clears up some confusion thanks
ReplyDeleteI applaud Mr. White for accepting responsiblity for the mistake. I also hopes this does not affect the relationship between TRD and the NASCAR teams that use their engines. Yes it was a mistake, yes it was a harsh penalty. If nothing else, TRD will surely check, double check, triple check all parts being installed in these engines; and that only the best will leave the facility. And no, I do not work for Toyota or TRD. Just a NASCAR fan.
ReplyDeleteWere any of the other rods about 3 grams OVER? Perhaps they are playing a balance game with the rods (I'll admit I don't see how that would work out from a technical standpoint). TRD would never admit to that, but Kenseth was fast....
ReplyDeleteI believe everything he is saying, no intent. However, I also believe that Carl Long also had no intent or did the Elliott folks who leased him the engine. If it breaks the rules, it breaks the rules for everybody.
ReplyDeleteIf it's determined TRD had no intent, this penalty is way over the line. Intent as well as rap sheet should be considered. Look at the Jody Arias trial, the whole mess is about determining intent. Will she die or spend life in prison? You can't just ignore intent all together NASCAR.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Lee White's comments (especially the last sentence), I have to ask, was Lee at Daytona in 2013?
ReplyDeleteI think the cotton ball thing is a little misleading a dime 10cent piece weighs 2.5grams so a chunk of metal .2 gram more just randomly came off or came up missing from the connecting rod. one more thing you will gain the most by lightning the rotating drive train parts closest to the crankshaft first then the farther away from that points does less to a affect horsepower by lightening parts. badream
ReplyDelete