Toytoa Engine Troubles Continue at Las Vegas

Lee White, Senior Vice President of Toyota Racing Development, Inc., (TRD), spoke with SPEED yesterday about the continued issues with engines coming out of the TRD camp. "It's embarrassing. Whatever conditions we've created ourselves, stupidly, we suspect it's a wear issue between the cam shaft and lubricant. It's either a lack of lubrication, too much lubrication, not enough coating, whatever." After Waltrip and Vickers had to change engines at California last weekend, TRD felt they had the issue resolved but it continued this weekend. #99-Reutimann, #47-Ambrose, #83-Vickers, #82-Speed all had to change engines and will be moving to the back. All of these motors came from the TRD camp. #18-Busch will also move to the rear but his engine is built in house at JGR.

The issue is focused around the coating on the valves and lifters burning off and causing a failure. White stated they tweaked their motor during the off-season to get more horsepower and all dyno tests showed positive results but with the lack of testing during the off-season they never got to put the motor on the track except for one race last year. I was confident in my people, but I guess I'm willing to say now we went the wrong direction," said White. "We're using a little heavier lubrication to not try to squeeze every last horsepower out of them in the race. The adjustments we've made are four or five horsepower, but that's not insignificant. No driver would give that up willingly. Our goal right now is to give them the best shot to get to the end."