FOX Sports Exclusive
Engine problems hurting Gibbs team
Share This Story
FONTANA, Calif.
In what has become commonplace in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this year, a Joe Gibbs Racing team packed up early Sunday because of engine issues.
Denny Hamlin became the latest victim of JGR's engine woes, stopping after 105 of 200 laps in the Auto Club 400 — a race in which he had been an early leader and was in contention to win.
“It’s disappointing, for sure,” Hamlin said. “ . . . We lost some power early on in the day when we started dropping positions. We didn’t know exactly what it was. Obviously, it was another engine failure and whatnot. It’s frustrating, from my standpoint.”
Although Joe Gibbs Racing builds its own engines, the problematic one Sunday will be sent to Toyota Racing Development's home base in Costa Mesa, Calif., where that group will help to diagnose the problem.
Hamlin's was the second Gibbs engine to have a problem this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Before Sunday's race, the No. 20 Home Depot team of Joey Logano switched engines and, thus, was forced to start from the back.
But JGR's rash of power-plant problems started before this weekend. Already this season, Logano (Phoenix) and Kyle Busch (Las Vegas) have ended races early because of engine-related issues. Hamlin also underwentan engine change before the race in Vegas before rallying for a seventh-place finish.
“I immediately became worried because I know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and from our standpoint,” Hamlin said after hearing about Logano’s prerace change. “When one of us has a problem, all the engines are very close, so usually all of us do.
“For some reason, our stuff is just struggling to keep it all together. I don’t know why. I don’t know what’s changed in the offseason. I can’t really speak upon that too much, so I don’t know. It’s not like, I don’t think that we’re going outside the box, by any means. I think we’re just having some part failures.”
Busch led the most laps Sunday, 108, but came up short at the end and finished third. Logano finished 25th, the last car on the lead lap.
A week after saying the team “identified” the problem, team president J.D. Gibbs declined comment Sunday at Fontana.
More Stories From Jorge Andres Mondaca
Trending Now
-
Better teamwork without Danica?
Michael Andretti's three drivers go into the Indianapolis 500 with strong chances to ... -
Jeff Van Gundy slams Magic CEO?
Jeff Van Gundy lashed out at the Orlando Magic Friday, labeling the team's top execut... -
Els upset with Wentworth condition
Ernie Els has launched an expletive-laced attack on European Tour officials and green... -
UFC 146 round-by-round recaps
Get the latest from UFC 146 in Las Vegas. -
End of Big Three era may be in sight
Celtics battle for survival in Game 7 unsure of Big Three's future.
NASCAR Videos
Highlights: History 300
Posted: May 27, 2012
Watch highlights of the History 300 from Charlotte Motor Speedway. Brad Keselows...
Watch highlights of the History 300 from Charlotte Motor Speedway. Brad Keselows...
NASCAR on FOX: Charlotte preview
Posted: May 26, 2012
The NASCAR on FOX crew preview the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
The NASCAR on FOX crew preview the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
NASCAR Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Gordon Black Low Rider Adjustable Hat | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Jeff_Gordon/browse/featuredproduct/603017/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_603000/ff_603017_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | Jeff Gordon Black Low Rider Adjustable Hat |
| Joey Logano Orange Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Joey_Logano/browse/featuredproduct/603115/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_603000/ff_603115_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | Joey Logano Orange Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat |
| Checkered Flag Juan Pablo Montoya Red Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Juan_Pablo_Montoya/browse/featuredproduct/603117/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_603000/ff_603117_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | Checkered Flag Juan Pablo Montoya Red Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat |
| Dale Earnhardt Jr. Royal Blue Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dale_Earnhardt_Jr/browse/featuredproduct/616723/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616723_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. Royal Blue Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat |
| Chase Authentics Jeff Burton Holiday Driver T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Jeff_Burton/browse/featuredproduct/731363/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731363_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Jeff Burton Holiday Driver T-Shirt - Black |
| Chase Authentics Jeff Burton 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Jeff_Burton/browse/featuredproduct/731374/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731374_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Jeff Burton 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black |
| Chase Authentics Kevin Harvick 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Kevin_Harvick/browse/featuredproduct/731378/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731378_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Kevin Harvick 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black |
| Chase Authentics Matt Kenseth 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Matt_Kenseth/browse/featuredproduct/731380/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731380_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Matt Kenseth 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black |
| Chase Authentics Kyle Busch 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Kyle_Busch/browse/featuredproduct/731381/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731381_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Kyle Busch 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black |
| Chase Authentics Denny Hamlin 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Denny_Hamlin/browse/featuredproduct/786305/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_786000/ff_786305_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Chase Authentics Denny Hamlin 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.