Full Throttle

Much speculation has been offered over Toyota’s possible entry into the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/bgn.gif]Busch Series[/avatar] that has been prompted in part by it’s successful entry into the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/cts.gif]Craftsman Truck Series[/avatar]. Because of NASCAR’s approval process for cars and body styles has certain deadlines to meet, it was assumed more would be known by now what Toyota’s plans for ‘06 are.

Both Chevy and Ford met the deadline by testing at Atlanta and moved on to the next step, wind tunnel testing. Toyota on the other hand has thrown their Cup effort into the “will they or won’t they” file.

Over the past several months, Toyota Racing Development had quietly built a race car that eventually was submitted for the mandatory approval process that would allow it to be entered into the NASCAR Busch Series beginning in 2006.

For reasons known only to them, TRD officials would never acknowledge the existence of the car even though it had gone through the initial stages of the approval process (fitting the car to the templates).

Next up for Toyota was an on-track test at Atlanta Motor Speedway, similar to what Ford and Chevrolet recently underwent when submitting their new models for the 2006 season. But just three weeks ago, prior to the first scheduled on-track test, Toyota officials notified NASCAR that they were pulling the plug on the process.

When asked Toyota NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program manager Pat Wall said the company was committed to CTS and it’s last year as engine supplier for the [avatar:http://cranialcavity.net/files/irl.png]IndyCar Series[/avatar]. He did say the company was waiting for NASCAR to “make a decision on the design of the new car,” whatever that means.

My guess, Toyota has decided to wait because of the NASCAR’s intent to roll out the “car of the future” for the ‘07 season.

In other news: Starting with this weeks event at Michigan International Speedway NASCAR will mandate the amount of front wheel camber and takes the decision out of the hands of crew chiefs. A technical bulletin was issued at Watkins Glen notifying them of the change that limits camber to a maximum of 8 degrees. You may recall the June Pocono event where some teams used camber angles of 10 and 11 degrees. Well, no more, the conspiracy theorists will have to find another whipping boy to explain blown out tires.

“I understand the camber situation, NASCAR came up with a camber rule for the right-rear before,” said Robbie Loomis, crew chief for four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon.

“Now, we’ve gotten to the point where everyone is abusing the left-fronts. But I think the side that is hard to control is the air pressure.”

Late breaking quick hit The Cat in the Hat seems to be softening his Kurt Busch stance.

Car owner Jack Roush is still thinking about letting Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch out of the final year of his contract in 2006.

“We will consider releasing him, but it’s not presumed that we will,” Roush said Monday at Darlington Raceway.

“We’ve got to consider … the interests of our sponsors and the commitments we’ve made to our sponsors and to our people within the organization … to see how it all fits together if we decide to have Kurt drive the number 97 car.

Jack also noted there would be no deals or interference in the Ganassi, Jamie McMurray situation. This looks like a shot across Ganassi’s bow, in essence he’s using the press to tell Chip “if I can work it out, so can you.”

NASCAR, Sports