[Phils20]

Wow. I've gotta say this surprised me. The Gibbs teams have been above board for their existence. I know they took one of Tony's cars a few years ago, but this is much different! Copied from "Thatsracin.com"

NASCAR blows the whistle on Gibbs teams

Attempts made to rig dyno test after Saturday's race, official says

JIM UTTER

The Charlotte Observer

Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008


BROOKLYN, Mich. - The Nos. 18 and 20 Nationwide Series teams of Joe Gibbs Racing - which have dominated competition in the series most of the season - could face serious sanctions after NASCAR officials said late Saturday the teams had attempted to alter the outcome of a chassis dyno test.
After Saturday's Nationwide race at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR tested several cars on the chassis dynamometer, which measures rear-wheel horsepower, as officials have done several times this season.
During the test, NASCAR officials discovered magnets on the accelerator pedals of the two Gibbs Toyotas. Several sources said the magnets could, in theory, keep the pedals from being fully depressed, which would limit the engines' output and distort the data available to officials.
"This was an attempt to interfere with NASCAR's post-race inspection process, and we are taking it very seriously," said Jim Hunter, vice president of corporate communications for the sanctioning body.
Hunter would not go into detail about what NASCAR officials found, but said both teams faced penalties, which would be announced early next week. No action would be taken at the track this weekend, he said.
Reached Saturday night, JGR team spokesperson Mike Arning said team officials felt that they were adhering to the rules laid out by NASCAR with the cars entered in Saturday's race.
Last month, NASCAR announced rule changes for the Toyota engines used in the Nationwide Series. The new guidelines were intended to cut about 15 horsepower. Saturday's race at Michigan was the first since that change in which horsepower was expected to play a larger role in performance and the race outcome. The previous three events were on a short track and two road courses.
So far this season, JGR's No. 18 and No. 20 Toyotas have combined for 13 wins in 25 races, with the most recent Kyle Busch's victory at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Clermont, Ind., in late July.

[Quality88]

Interesting..... whatcha wanna bet they scrutinize all 3 Gibbs cup cars sunday?

[Bob Tanner]

Was it cheating or was it "working a grey area?"

AS far as I'm concerned they're both the same.

[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by Phils20

During the test, NASCAR officials discovered magnets on the accelerator pedals of the two Gibbs Toyotas. Several sources said the magnets could, in theory, keep the pedals from being fully depressed, which would limit the engines' output and distort the data available to officials.

If those magnets were on the cars when the car was raced.... this is not a gray area. The Gibbs cars just have reserve horsepower.

But, on the other hand, if the magnets were added after the race.... someone at Gibbs just doesn't want NASCAR to know how much horsepower the really have. That's not a gray area either. That's an attempt to deceive NASCAR. And, that's cheating.

Joe Gibbs may want to spend some time talking about ethics with his magnet keeper.

[Phils20]

I'm sure Joe didn't know or endorse this act, but I'm very disappointed in them for trying it.

The employee who did it should be fired, as an example to the others that JGR won't tolerate this stuff.

[Mindwarp]

Oh boy...cue 'the nashun'.

If the magnets were a permenant fixture under the pedal and used even while racing, I don't see the problem. If that's the case, they should have found a better way to adjust the engine.

If it's indeed used only during testing, then it's cheating.

[DodgeFB]

I want to see what Joe says and does. I think his reaction will tell us what we need to know on this.

[Quality88]

Two things.... If they did it after the race then they should get their butts kicked..... If they did it before the race to limit the horsepower as said, i don't see the problem... all it did(if theory is correct), was limit horsepower which is what NA$CAR wanted to do to the Toyota's in the first place.

[Mindwarp]

The problem is that since it's a magnet and those are relatively easy to add and remove, they'll have difficulty in proving it was used during the race. If they would have put something that was a bit more 'permament', such as a bolt through the floor board or something, they would have an easier time explaing it.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Was it cheating or was it "working a grey area?"

AS far as I'm concerned they're both the same.

how would you react if Knaus was involved ?

[Phils20]

But why use a magnet, if it was done during the race?

Why not something more fixed, that couldn't have a chance of being moved around??

Hey I like Gibbs, and Smoke and Shrub, but when it comes to cheating, I want em all punished equally.

HMS, JGR, Rousch, whoever it is, and regardless of whether or not I like em.

That is the only way to stop the BS.

Can anyone really say that they think there is any reason to put a magnet on there, other than to cheat the test?

That just doesn't seem to me to be a good way to regulate the RPM's.

Aren't they allowed to run rev limiters on the boxes?

The answer to that is yes. So why use such a Mickey Mouse system to control the throttle during a race??

[883dalesrjr]

Know that the gibbs cars have finally been caught for their cheating ways. I guarantee Kyle will not finish in the top 5 today.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Two things.... If they did it after the race then they should get their butts kicked..... If they did it before the race to limit the horsepower as said, i don't see the problem... all it did(if theory is correct), was limit horsepower which is what NA$CAR wanted to do to the Toyota's in the first place.

I see a problem, Dustin.. Just think about this one for a second. If I'm wrong, slap me a little.

I'm assuming the dyno was done when they took the selected 3-4 cars back to NA__ARLand for post race testing.

Going on that assumption, the cars should be tested EXACTLY as they came off the track after the race. The ONLY difference would be the lack of a driver.

Does NA__AR, or the fans in general, want to have a situation where, after the race and the teams are notified that their car is going with NA__AR, the crew chief says, "Wait a moment and let us get this gizmo off our car. We ran it during the race but it might be illegal when you do your testing."

Can you imagine the bag of armadillo dung THAT would open up if NA__AR allowed THAT to happen?

Which, contrary to the concept that these NA__AR cheaters are really geniuses in disguise, is why I maintain that "Grey Area" is just a euphemism for, "I'm cheating. Let's see if you can catch me." Rules are either adhered to or broken. No in between.

[Phils20]

lol

If you think that magnet is the reason they have been winning all year, you are about to be disappointed.

It's amazing how far folks will stretch a point.

At worst, they used a magnet to cheat the test. It didn't make the car run any different than it has all year, or have an impact on other races over the year.

As far as I'm concerned, NASCAR is cheating the Toyotas, at least in the NW series.

They gave them parameters, and they complied with them, and built a better mouse trap.

NASCAR is mad that they are stinking up the show.

If they were actually just interested in running a sport, instead of a Hollywood show, the HP difference wouldn't even matter.

I'm embarassed at what this sport has turned into.

A show...

It's truly sad. Gone are the days when you were rewarded for working hard, and building a better car. NASCAR just wants to try and make everyone happy.

In the end, we all know you just can't do that.

I'm a die hard Chevy fan, but I want the Bowties to earn their wins, not have some half-baked rules concessions hinder the competition until Chevy can finally pull of a win.

[Mindwarp]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Hey I like Gibbs, and Smoke and Shrub, but when it comes to cheating, I want em all punished equally.

Doesn't Logano run the 18 in NW?