Two words..... Mike Mulhern - So read this with a grain of salt.....
Perhaps in 2010?
When NASCAR Sprint Cup director John Darby, a few weeks ago, raised the issue of 'fuel injected' racing engines in NASCAR, it raised eyebrows.
NASCAR Cup engines are some of the most technically advanced engines in racing, except for the antique carburetors. Every other major form of racing, even ASA, uses fuel injected engines. And when was the last time anyone saw a carburetor atop a street car engine, after all.
But NASCAR has long shied away from things electronically complicated like electronic fuel injection, for fear – with goodly reason – that the mechanical wizards on these racing teams might figure out a way to put some tricks in that electronic box.
Now however NASCAR officials are raising the issue to team owners of fuel injected engines – possibly in the Truck series as soon as next season, according to one scenario – and asking how owners think NASCAR ought to police it.
That's just one of numerous issues NASCAR and team owners discussed in a major session earlier this month, to consider where this sport ought to be five years from now.
Why fuel injection now?
One, to improve NASCAR's image and make the sport look more high-tech, and more up-to-date with what Detroit really puts out on the street for real people.
Two, to use it as another item in a line of 'green' initiatives, again for public perception.
And perhaps three, to entice other car makers – read Honda and Volkswagen – into this sport.
"We think fuel injection is just the right way to go in NASCAR," Pat Suhy, Chevrolet's NASCAR field director, says.
"And it wouldn't be that difficult. Every other top racing series uses fuel injection. We could put something together in about a week – depending on how simple or complex you wanted to do it – and then test it for two months or so, and be ready to go."
Perhaps in 2010?
When NASCAR Sprint Cup director John Darby, a few weeks ago, raised the issue of 'fuel injected' racing engines in NASCAR, it raised eyebrows.
NASCAR Cup engines are some of the most technically advanced engines in racing, except for the antique carburetors. Every other major form of racing, even ASA, uses fuel injected engines. And when was the last time anyone saw a carburetor atop a street car engine, after all.
But NASCAR has long shied away from things electronically complicated like electronic fuel injection, for fear – with goodly reason – that the mechanical wizards on these racing teams might figure out a way to put some tricks in that electronic box.
Now however NASCAR officials are raising the issue to team owners of fuel injected engines – possibly in the Truck series as soon as next season, according to one scenario – and asking how owners think NASCAR ought to police it.
That's just one of numerous issues NASCAR and team owners discussed in a major session earlier this month, to consider where this sport ought to be five years from now.
Why fuel injection now?
One, to improve NASCAR's image and make the sport look more high-tech, and more up-to-date with what Detroit really puts out on the street for real people.
Two, to use it as another item in a line of 'green' initiatives, again for public perception.
And perhaps three, to entice other car makers – read Honda and Volkswagen – into this sport.
"We think fuel injection is just the right way to go in NASCAR," Pat Suhy, Chevrolet's NASCAR field director, says.
"And it wouldn't be that difficult. Every other top racing series uses fuel injection. We could put something together in about a week – depending on how simple or complex you wanted to do it – and then test it for two months or so, and be ready to go."
