The Hot Pass: Toyota leaves F1, but stays in NASCAR

FORT WORTH, Texas

Toyota's NASCAR program won't be subsidized with new funds despite the company's exit from Formula One. Lee White, President and General Manager of Toyota Racing Development, USA, said the decision to withdrawal from F1 was not "an easy decision to make." But when asked whether those funds — estimated from $300-500 million — would be redirected to the NASCAR program, White offered a resounding "No." And there is currently no interest by Toyota to return to the IndyCar Series either. "The NASCAR program is part of our overall North American program — and it's just that, an American program," White said. "(The F1 withdrawal) affects a lot of people. A lot of those people are friends of ours so we feel for them, but the company — in its culture — will take care of those people to the best of their ability. "But it should have no effect whatsoever on our NASCAR program, our NASCAR plans and our NASCAR future. We remain completely committed to the sport of NASCAR racing and NASCAR remains completely committed to us — and all of the NASCAR manufacturers." Still, though White did not question the ability of the sanctioning body to govern the sport, he felt that NASCAR needs "to find a way to become relevant again." White pointed to NASCAR's "phenomenal period of growth" which has been followed recently by waning attendance. White said Toyota is committed to go "shoulder-to-shoulder with (NASCAR) to try to make it all work." This season, only two of Toyota's eight factory-backed teams made the Chase for the Sprint Cup, but neither the Joe Gibbs Racing nor Red Bull Racing entries have been able to hold their own against the No. 48 juggernaut of Hendrick Motorsports — or the other four Hendrick-powered cars (Hendrick's Nos. 5 and 24, Stewart-Haas Racing's Nos. 14 and 39). With three races remaining in the season Denny Hamlin and Brian Vickers are currently 11th and 12th, respectively, in the standings. White said, "the Hendrick organization is a tier higher than everyone — including other teams from (Chevrolet)." But as a manufacturer still relatively new to to NASCAR's Sprint Cup series, White doesn't begrudge HMS, he just wants to "find ways to beat them." But how does anyone in the sport beat Hendrick Motorsports on a regular basis? White joked that Rick Hendrick could split up Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus for the good of the sport. Or perhaps "invert wherever Jimmie Johnson is and put him in the back." The NASCAR of today is quite different from the days when the manufacturers used to camp out on the steps of the sanctioning body's trailer lobbying for concessions to improve their car's competitive level. Common templates have erased most of the areas where a program director could find an edge. White admits the only strategy his teams can exercise is good old hard work to compete against and possibly beat the Hendrick machine. "It's very hard to legislate competition," White said. "How can you legislate against Hendrick other than making their life miserable by checking their cars every week and taking them apart? Oh, wait. They did that and it didn't work. "I give NASCAR credit for trying. They are doing the best they can. Some of these things just take time until someone figures out how to get as good as they are."

While we're talking about Toyota ...

Lee White admitted Saturday that there have been discussions between Toyota and Ganassi Racing about its plans for next season, but added that Toyota "is not pursuing other teams." "NASCAR rules state that if any teams want to run our product relative to other brands then it's our obligation and our commitment to NASCAR to make the parts and pieces available," White said. "We're not obligated in any manner to subsidize or support anyone. "Any incoming team that chose the Toyota product would be evaluated on its own merit, then decisions would be made whether engineering support would be provided to that team — or not — from TRD or whether that relationship would be with a current team or how it would work out." White added that Toyota "is very happy with their current relationships." However, one source said Saturday that Chip Ganassi needs to make a decision this weekend in order to get things in place for next season if he's contemplating changing manufacturers. According to several sources, Ganassi originally approached Joe Gibbs Racing about an engine program but apparently didn't care for the price tag that accompanied the deal. When Ganassi bluffed and threatened to take his program to TRD — which currently provides engines for Red Bull Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing — he was told the resources didn't exist to include additional teams for next year.

The economy of horsepower

With Braun Racing expected to expand to four Nationwide Series teams in 2010 — including a new deal for Brian Scott and a limited Sprint Cup Series schedule for Reed Sorenson — the decision had to be made without delay regarding engines for next season. Braun had a two-year agreement with Triad Racing Technologies to provide engines for its teams. But when the time came to renegotiate, the organization opted to use Arrington engines as a cost-saving measure. "We love (TRT head engine builder) John Dysinger to death," a team source said. "It's not that we weren't happy — we were weighing our options for next year and decided to make a change." That change came early for Jason Leffler, who is currently fourth in the NNS point standings, at Memphis. In the two races since, Leffler finished third in both events. This weekend at Texas, all the Braun cars had Arrington power. Brian Vickers finished seventh and Kasey Kahne led laps before his suspension broke on Lap 113.

Taking one for the team

With Juan Pablo Montoya currently trailing Jimmie Johnson by 239 points, crew chief Brian Pattie's strategy for the rest of the season has changed. Pattie is testing out his latest and greatest on the No. 42 Chevrolet to prepare for next season. His greatest goal over the final three races is to maintain a top-five position in the standings. "My guys have worked exceptionally hard this season," Pattie said. "I want to make sure they get their bonus."

Numbers game

We thought that Kyle Busch could wrap up the NNS title with 15th-place finish at Phoenix or 34th or better in the last two races. However, following the race NASCAR informed the media that Busch's car failed prerace inspection for improperly secured weight and it would expect penalties as a result. Guess we'll recalculate the championship scenarios and get back to you.