End of the road for carbs in Nascar

[Dan White]

2011 will be the last year for carbs for Sprint Cup cars! Fuel Injection here we go.

[DEEPNHOCK]

That is a 2 year old decision.
Of interest is that the fuel injection system of choice is from McLaren, so it can't be changed in any way.

(copy)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR announced Friday a historic technology partnership with Freescale Semiconductor and McLaren Electronic Systems to develop and integrate fuel injection systems into the Sprint Cup Series, targeted for the 2012 season.
Freescale will provide the processors for McLaren's engine control units (ECUs) that will be used to manage the fuel and ignition systems in the engines for all Cup Series cars, replacing carburetors which have been used in the series since its inception in 1949. NASCAR and its top series teams will test the technology during the 2011 season with the anticipation of the systems being rolled out for the 2012 season.

The fuel injection system will bring increased technology and efficiency to the Cup Series cars while at the same time complementing the car's high performance. This announcement marks the most significant strategic change to NASCAR's engine platform in decades. As part of this program, Freescale is designated as the "Official Automotive Semiconductor of NASCAR" and McLaren the "Official Engine Control Unit of NASCAR."
"This move gives us an additional opportunity to incorporate the best technology in our race cars that will enhance the sport in a variety of ways," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "Selecting these two industry leaders reflects our commitment to this new technology which our manufacturers and teams have embraced. This is a positive step that will provide greater fuel efficiency and a greener footprint while maintaining the same great competition we have seen on the race track."
For decades, most of the parts and equipment on NASCAR race cars have been highly customized for racing but at the same time relevant in standard automobiles. This move to fuel injection brings back an important synergy between these two vehicle types.
ECUs maximize each racing team's ability to get the most performance and best fuel economy under all race conditions. With this announcement, plans call for every Cup Series race team to use a control system with Freescale's advanced 32-bit Power Architecture based engine management processors at its core, beginning in 2012. These same processors power millions of today's most energy efficient engines.
The ECUs are tamper-proof, ensuring that only approved software may ever be run during a race weekend. Additionally, NASCAR will have special electronic tools at its disposal during every event to ensure the legality of all ECUs.
"Freescale's partnership with NASCAR and McLaren goes beyond a simple business relationship," said Henri Richard, senior vice president and chief sales and marketing officer at Freescale Semiconductor. "It reflects our shared values in the automotive industry and our common dedication to technology improvement, high performance, energy efficiency and leadership in safety. It also continues to demonstrate the success of the Power Architecture as the leading microcontroller architecture in the automotive segment. NASCAR trusts us to provide cutting-edge automotive solutions for the next generation of engine management. Our products and technology will power every Sprint Cup Series race car next year and we are honored to be the sole automotive semiconductor provider for America's largest motorsport."
Since 1966, McLaren has a legacy of racing success in the United States, totaling 43 victories during its tenure in the Can-Am Challenge, 10 wins at the U.S. Grand Prix and three wins at the Indianapolis 500. In addition, McLaren Electronics Systems has been a supplier to NASCAR teams since 2005 and also provides the ECUs that will be available late summer 2011 in the McLaren MP4-12C high-performance sports car. Freescale technology has been at the heart of McLaren's engine control and data systems racing technology since 2000 and it provides the power behind all of McLaren's major racing programs. Freescale is the largest U.S. based producer of automotive electronics and its technology enables virtually all automotive innovation in use today, from advanced engine systems to navigation and active safety.
"We are excited to build on our existing relationships with NASCAR and Freescale for this critical technology," said Peter van Manen, managing director, McLaren Electronic Systems Limited. "McLaren has been providing reliable, high performance electronics to professional motorsports and other high performance automotive applications in North America, Europe and Asia for more than 20 years and we are both proud and delighted to be bringing our ECU technology into NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series."

[railway]

What size restrictor plate in the fuel injector plump? LOL

[DEEPNHOCK]

Talledega: Turn the knob to #7 and lock it.
Bristol: Turn the knob to #11 and hold on!!!!!

What size restrictor plate in the fuel injector pump? LOL

[Bob Andrews]

Meh... The first death blow was making 4DSDs look like 2 doors. Second was losing Dale. The final knell was allowing Toyotas.

Could not care less what they do now. We still have a Daytona party, but it's mostly a party with the big TV on in the background. We look over our shoulders when there's a wreck.

RIP Cup racing.

[Flashback]

Never been a strong Nascar person, and never liked Dale, However I agree with Bob.
It's gone to pot anyway. Just like drag racing. A 1/8 mile, and bracket racing, What
kinda junk is that. It's all cubic dollars now, no hot rodders left. Just decide how fast
ya wanna run, and go to the hot rod super market, and lay down the cash. I was at
thet first race at Talledega in 69.

[Bob Andrews]

It's all cubic dollars now, no hot rodders left. Just decide how fast
ya wanna run, and go to the hot rod super market, and lay down the cash.

Same with my local racing. When I started in the 70s, guys used brains to build their own ideas, and balls and talent to make it go fast. Nowadays a new Super or Dirt mod is $50K for a Super and $25K for a Dirt car (that lasts half as long as a Super) plus a $35K engine. Helmets are DQed by the Snell date (five years max) and they make us use a HANS ($600-1000). Talent's nice, but enough money can buy the wins. In my time it's gone from a working man's hobby to rich guys' playthings.

I've been semi-retired for a few years. I drive here and there filling in for the young kids, and give them a few pointers. Part of the deal is borrowing their helmet and HANS or Hutchens device. If I want to go back full-time I can, but first I have to lay out $1500 just for helmet/restraint package. Of course, safety is paramount, but the insurance companies have made it ridiculous.

I sure do miss the days of Yarborough, and Petty, and Parsons, And Dale Sr. And, the days when a kid with no money, but talent and ambition, could try to take a shot at becoming one of his heroes.

[JBOYLE]

It's good to see they finally entered the second half of the 20th century.
It only took them a decade (plus) into the 21st century...

[Milaca]

Remember when stock car racing was actually stock car racing? When did NASCAR quit using actual production car bodies for racing? Was it in the late 1980's? I vaguely recall mid to late 1980's Monte Carlo aero-coupes (long sloping rear window) being produced in low quantities so that they would be permitted to race in NASCAR. I'm guessing that Chevy did this to be more competitive with the Thunderbirds. Speaking of Ford Thunderbirds, I saw Bill Elliot driving a Chevy Impalla today! That just don't seem right!

[JBOYLE]

I'm not sure I care any more.

We've had the same bland, colorless champ for 5 years, driving antique cars who works for a convicted/pardoned felon....
NASCAR is whistling past the graveyard saying Johnson's domination isn't hurting the sport, a view parroted by Charolette-based sportswriters who don't want their press passes revoked...less they miss out on the free pre-race buffet.
You have a greater chance of those idiots on "Meet The Press" asking a democrat hard questions (or conceding not ALL conservatives are stupid) than anyone going against the NASCAR media line.
Sadly, the TV neworks that carry the races (especially FOX), also don't dare invoke the wrath of NASCAR....

THAT FELT GOOD...rant over!

[gordr]

Somebody needs to start an actual stock car racing series.

[r1lark]

I sure do miss the days of Yarborough, and Petty, and Parsons, And Dale Sr. And, the days when a kid with no money, but talent and ambition, could try to take a shot at becoming one of his heroes.

And Davey Allison, Tim Richmond, Mark Donohue, and Alan Kulwicki..................

[studegary]

NASCAR is gradually moving from 1960s technology to 1980s technology.

Bring back stock cars (stock bodies, chassis and engine) with safety items (roll cage, seats, etc.) added to them.

They are now like spec racers like the old IROC races.

[Bob Andrews]

And Davey Allison, Tim Richmond, Mark Donohue, and Alan Kulwicki..................

You bet, Paul. And more as well.

At least they don't have to witness this decline of their life's work...

[JBOYLE]

Bring back stock cars (stock bodies, chassis and engine) with safety items (roll cage, seats, etc.) added to them.

Like the Touring Car races in Europe?

Yes, that would be great....but we'd have to have folks drive Mercedes and BMWs...I don't think any American sedans could do more than 100 for any length of time.

Maybe to have American racers, they'd let them drive Camaros, Mustangs and Challengers...and whatever Toyota builds.