Driving a Volkswagen (ok, it's a van but it has a 5 cylinder, 2.5 litre turbodiesel engine with a 6 speed gearbox and 170 bhp) daily for work I know it's potential. Don't forget they also own several big sportscar brands so they can access the technology quite easily. I don't know anything about Nascar but if they are free in the choice of engine configuration, they will run circles around those bulky American cars. Same goes for Toyota.

Crash

VW was also looking into providing engines for the indycar series.

U4EA wrote on Nov 29^th, 2009 at 1:16am:



I'd say Toyota's game plan was spot on.

Their second year in trucks, they won the Manufacture & the diver's title.

Their third year in Nationwide series, they won the Manufacture & driver's title.

Their second year in Sprint cup, they got drivers in the chase, and scored the most victories.

Not too bad considering they've only been racing here for less than a decade.

2010, we'll finally get to see them put an end to that damn Chevy dominance in Sprint cup.   

Sad to see them pull out of F1, but they had an excellent point, and it appears BMW agrees with them.

ShaneG wrote on Nov 29^th, 2009 at 6:44am:


I take it you're talking in NASCAR circles?

ShaneG wrote on Nov 29^th, 2009 at 9:22am:


There previous US and world forays weren't brilliant though in Group C/IMSA GTP. Apparently they were only successful in the latter final season or two (as it died a slow death as group C did).

But, for the money that they spent, NASCAR gets to live a little longer.
I'm pretty sure NACAR wouldn't have lasted long through the crunch if Toyota hadn't have come in and employed a few hundred guys and attracted some big sponsor dollars.
Toyota is who has kept the Truck & NW series alive when our three automakers bailed on them.
Did you know there is only five engine suppliers in Nascar?
Chevy & Ford are not two of them. Because they don't think it's worth the expense anymore.  RCR/EGR & HMS handle all of the Chevy teams, and Rousch/Yates take care of the Fords.  Dodge & Toyota are the only two Factory suppliers left, with Dodge more than likely pulling out after Next season.

  And then we can't forget the wonderful discussion of how, Toyota's are more American made than our own domestic brands... (regardless of where the profits go... WE NEVER see a dime of that at our level, so it's a moot point. When our COs get it, they invest it over seas, when the Japanese COs get it, they invest it here in the US. Can't wait for Honda to hurry up and get their NASCAR program up and going.)

I don't think they're stagnating at all, I think the COT has reached it's development potential in its current form, and it just equalizing through out the field as everyone finally catches up to HMS.  Even some of the Dodge's were pretty strong over the last 15 races or so.

And your last point, is sadly one I have to agree with. 

Even Toyota can't outspend Chevy & Hendrick, and having the line up of drivers and crew chiefs he has, you cannot deny he is spending WAY more than any other team, just on personnel alone.  The fact they have had four straight titles now, is a testament to how much more they spend on the equipment.


Now that I sound like a total Toyota Fanboy    , I assure you, I'm not. I'm just glad they came around when they did, and saved the sport, I'm still a Dodge man at heart. 

U4EA wrote on Nov 30^th, 2009 at 11:11am:


I'm sure they'll find one, somewhere.

There's no chance VW will ever come to NASCAR.

Even if it was the only racing left in the world. 

Sometimes, I think that's why Daimler let Chrysler go, they couldn't bear having a connection with NASCAR. 

Honda has confirmed they will enter in the next year or two, in the same manner that Toyota did. That's probably why Honda pulled out of F1, just like Toyota, they can get A LOT more return for their money in racing here. 

When Toyota first came into NASCAR, they didn't have a pushrod V-8. They had to come up with one from scratch based of the Tundra's V8.  Honda has to do the same thing.

VW, if they did enter, could easily pick and choose from several makes of V8 to modify.  With their ties to Audi, Lambo, & Porsche, performance would never be a problem.

Not sure which car they would pick though, Passat maybe? Do they even have a car in NASCAR sedan size class?

C wrote on Dec 1^st, 2009 at 12:30pm:


Or the CC, as it is pretty sporty looking. Not that it matters, all the bodies in NASCAR are essentially the same, just with different badges and fake head and tail lights.

They could always break out the Skoda Superb if the Phaeton was too posh.

Oddly enough, a lot of the high performance cop cars over here  in the UK are now Skodas. Unthinkable 15 years ago, but then again, so is there popularity amongst criminals looking for a useful car.