McLaren in NASCAR ECU deal

McLaren Electronics along with Freescale Semiconductor will provide fuel injection systems that NASCAR plans to implement in the Sprint Cup Series in a year's time.

In one of the biggest technical changes for NASCAR in years, the sanctioning body has announced that its top series will use fuel injection systems on its cars from 2012, all being supplied by McLaren Electronics.

Freescale Semiconductor will provide the processors for McLaren's engine control units, which will be used to manage the fuel and ignition systems, replacing carburetors which have been used in the series since its inception in 1949.

Although difficulties in efficiently policing electronic systems has been a reason for NASCAR to stay away from them in the past, officials feel confident in their suppliers' capability to deliver a cheat-proof system that can guarantee a level playing field.

NASCAR plans to race the system for the first time next year at Daytona and although it has yet to confirm whether it will be run for the whole season, the aim is to make a full implementation in 2012.

"This is the tip of the iceberg for the technology," NASCAR's vice-president for competition Robin Pemberton told AUTOSPORT. "Right now we're concentrating on the engine management system and keeping it as fair for all of our manufacturers and all of our teams, knowing that moving forward we'll have the ability to do a lot more things.

"Those things will help the garage area in some form, but it's important to know that it can enhance the fan experience as well, whether we go into the telemetry part, it might add to the TV packages moving forward, things like that.

"We know that's down the road for us, but for now it's just important for us to make sure that we maintain the level playing field and make sure that nobody is getting away with anything."

Although ECUs open a wide range of options for NASCAR and teams in terms of data acquisition, the systems will remain restricted for engine management purposes initially. Teams will be able to tune them through software and parameters may vary from one track to another, as is the case with carburetors at present.

Further tuning or 'hacking' of the units will be prevented by codes, while McLaren Electronics officials guarantee that any attempt to alter the system will be easy to track.

The NASCAR fuel injection system will have eight injectors - one per cylinder - and it will be placed in the intake manifold. The throttle body will be manufactured by Holley, current vendor for NASCAR carburetors, while the airbox and air intake will remain the same as currently being used.

The system will be similar to the one supplied by McLaren for the IndyCar Series in the past, although it will be NASCAR-specific.

Before being officially tested on-track for the first time by teams, the systems are set to undergo plenty of dyno testing, although there have been a few outings at non-NASCAR tracks already, according to Pemberton.

McLaren Electronics has been working alongside NASCAR for the past 18 months, altough the company has been a supplier for teams for a few years already.

"As a group, McLaren is extremely serious about its involvement in North America: as well as looking ahead to our NASCAR involvement, the next 12 months will also see us introduce the MP4-12C high-performance sports car to the market," said Ron Dennis, executive chairman of McLaren Group.

"With both projects, we're keen to ensure that our expertise produces the most efficient and effective solutions while also safeguarding the incredible reputation that the McLaren name has built up over nearly 50 years of motorsport competition."

McLaren Electronics is also the official supplier for ECUs in Formula 1.

Aguero eyes Chelsea moveNASCAR to use E15 fuel from 2011

Drivers would back Cup points change

A number of Sprint Cup drivers have shown their support for a new points system that NASCAR could potentially implement this year in an attempt to make the scoring easier for fans to understand.

According to a recent report from the Associated Press, NASCAR is considering a complete overhaul of the points allocation that has been in place since 1975, and could replace it with a system that would award 43 points to the first finisher down to one for the 43rd placed driver, with a one-point decrease between each position. Possible changes to the Chase are also on the cards, as well as the allocation of bonus points.

The current points system awards 185 points to a race winner, with five-point decreases down to sixth place, four-point decreases from sixth to 11th and then three from 11th down to 43rd place. Five bonus points are awarded for leading laps, another five for leading the most laps, and 10 towards a driver's seeding in the play-off for every win during the first 26 races, with the top 12 in the points becoming title contenders in the final 10 weeks of the season.

A NASCAR spokesman has confirmed changes being considered but denied that a final decision had been taken. An official announcement is expected to take place next week.

Five-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson backed the possible change but said he would not expect it to hurt his chances of defending his title if implemented this year. However he believes that further changes need to be made in other areas like the length and number of races, in order to enhance declining viewership and attendance figures.

"There's a lot of speculation at this point, but in theory if it is 43 points for the winner on down to one for the last place car, in concept, in theory, it's still very similar to what we have now," said Johnson. "So I think the premise, the concept is still very similar. Take a while to get used to it.

"I think it's more of an attempt to make our points system easier to understand. I don't think that it would be a huge change from the thought that I've put into it so far. I don't see it being a big thing.

"I know people expect me to react and think, 'oh, they've got to leave it alone, don't change it.' I don't care what races are in the Chase, the format to win the championship; I could care less because I feel confident that my team will be able to win championships under any set of circumstances.

"Some more tweaks here and there, I'm willing to try it, but I think there are some other issues that would help with attendance and viewership that kind of leave the garage area and what happens on the track.

"You look at length of races, frequency of races. In my opinion I think a lot of our fans are just over-exposed from race lengths and then so many events."

2004 champion Kurt Busch, the first to win a Cup title under the Chase format, said the changes being considered are positive for the fans, although he would like to see more bonus points being awarded for winning a race.

"I thought it was good," said Busch. "I do think it's simpler for people to figure out. Obviously when you know you're 18 points behind someone, that's 18 spots without the bonus points and everything.

"From what I saw that [NASCAR] proposed, the one thing that they were open to is possibly giving a few more bonus points for the wins in the regular season to count towards the Chase, and I think because just maybe giving one point to someone who wins a race, putting that to your Chase points, that's only one spot, that's not equal to what we had before.

"I definitely think that they're open to that change, but I'm definitely in favour of the one to 43. I think it's going to be easier for us to figure out to be honest with you."

Last year's championship runner-up Denny Hamlin believes that the proposed alterations would not have changed the identity of the champion in recent seasons.

"I'd like to go back for myself and just do research and plug those numbers into past years and to see who comes out on top or to see how things change around and to help fine-tune it a little bit more, because in the end you still want it to be about consistency, but you have to be consistent during those 10 weeks," said Hamlin.

"When you sit there and change around points 100 different ways, we still end up with the same champion nine times out of 10 it seems like."

Double champion Tony Stewart also seemed supportive of any possible changes.

"As long as we all start the year and we understand what the point structure is and how you get the points, then you race accordingly," said Stewart.

"But it's still going to be on a situation where if you win races the points take care of itself, and as long as it's not a deal where you ever get in a situation where running 30th pays more points than winning then it shouldn't really change how you race, it's just you know if it's a 36-week deal that leads into a championship or a 10-week deal, you know how to prepare for it."

Next week NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France is expected to unveil any final changes to the championship format.

Drivers would back Cup points changeHammers lead Barrera chase

Waltrip Toyotas top drafting session

The Michael Waltrip Racing Toyotas of David Reutimann and Martin Truex Jr topped an uneventful Thursday drafting practice session as NASCAR Sprint Cup teams continued to gear up for the Daytona 500.

Reutimann, a two-time winner in the series, set a fastest lap of 45.970 seconds, at an average speed of 195.780 mph, achieved while running in tandem with his MWR team-mate Truex, who was second on the timesheets.

Behind them, Red Bull's returnee Brian Vickers was third-fastest, also achieving his best lap while working in tandem with his team-mate Kasey Kahne.

Stewart Haas' Tony Stewart was fifth, setting his best lap while drafting in single file with both MWR and Red Bull cars in a five-car group, the biggest seen during the four-hour session. However, his best lap was over a second slower than what the top four managed after splitting into two-car team formations.

Despite much anticipation to the afternoon session, few drivers ventured on the track to draft and figure out the effect of the new, smoother Daytona asphalt, which proved to allow more bump-drafting than in the past.

"It looked like a lot of guys were just working on a lot of stuff today so maybe they're going to be focused on drafting tomorrow," said Vickers. "I'm sure before we leave you'll see a pretty big pack. I can't imagine you wouldn't because I know pretty much everybody wants to see how the cars react in that situation, the track and all that stuff."

Many drivers and teams continued to focus on single-car runs, hoping to get most of their programmes done before switching to drafting mode. Some rain is forecast for the Daytona area on Friday.

Teams will continue to test until Saturday for the Daytona 500, which takes place on February 20.

Nadal set for Mallorca roleWaltrip Toyotas top drafting session

Bowyer leads first Daytona test

Clint Bowyer topped the timesheets during the first NASCAR Sprint Cup testing session of the year at Daytona on Thursday, as teams kicked off a three-day programme which got their on-track preparation for the season-opener underway.

Richard Childress driver Bowyer set a fastest lap of 48.855 seconds at an average speed of 184.219mph, with Chevrolet Impalas sweeping the top five spots with four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon finishing second best, ahead of Mark Martin and the Earnhardt Ganassi duo of Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya. Reigning Nationwide Series champion Brad Keselowski was sixth in the #2 Penske Dodge.

Drivers and teams focused on single-car qualifying-type runs on the new surface, which continues to show the improved grip and smoothness already evident when a number of cars laid rubber on it for the first time last December during a Goodyear tyre test.

"It's almost identical feeling to what we have at Talladega," said two-time champion Tony Stewart following the session. "Obviously the transitions off [Turns] 2 and 4 are a little more abrupt than what we have at Talladega, but as far as the ride, you literally could hold a cup of coffee with the lid off full and not spill a drop riding around there."

Besides the new nose on the Cup cars, all teams were also running with the new Sunoco Green E15 gasoline, as well as testing the new self-ventilated dump cans that will be used during pitstops this year.

Thirty-three cars completed laps during the session, the caution flags only being displayed for debris on the track.

Teams are set to finish the day with an afternoon drafting session, although many have no plans to run in the pack thus far.

Zaragoza want Pennant stayBowyer leads first Daytona test

Drivers would back Cup points change

A number of Sprint Cup drivers have shown their support for a new points system that NASCAR could potentially implement this year in an attempt to make the scoring easier for fans to understand.

According to a recent report from the Associated Press, NASCAR is considering a complete overhaul of the points allocation that has been in place since 1975, and could replace it with a system that would award 43 points to the first finisher down to one for the 43rd placed driver, with a one-point decrease between each position. Possible changes to the Chase are also on the cards, as well as the allocation of bonus points.

The current points system awards 185 points to a race winner, with five-point decreases down to sixth place, four-point decreases from sixth to 11th and then three from 11th down to 43rd place. Five bonus points are awarded for leading laps, another five for leading the most laps, and 10 towards a driver's seeding in the play-off for every win during the first 26 races, with the top 12 in the points becoming title contenders in the final 10 weeks of the season.

A NASCAR spokesman has confirmed changes being considered but denied that a final decision had been taken. An official announcement is expected to take place next week.

Five-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson backed the possible change but said he would not expect it to hurt his chances of defending his title if implemented this year. However he believes that further changes need to be made in other areas like the length and number of races, in order to enhance declining viewership and attendance figures.

"There's a lot of speculation at this point, but in theory if it is 43 points for the winner on down to one for the last place car, in concept, in theory, it's still very similar to what we have now," said Johnson. "So I think the premise, the concept is still very similar. Take a while to get used to it.

"I think it's more of an attempt to make our points system easier to understand. I don't think that it would be a huge change from the thought that I've put into it so far. I don't see it being a big thing.

"I know people expect me to react and think, 'oh, they've got to leave it alone, don't change it.' I don't care what races are in the Chase, the format to win the championship; I could care less because I feel confident that my team will be able to win championships under any set of circumstances.

"Some more tweaks here and there, I'm willing to try it, but I think there are some other issues that would help with attendance and viewership that kind of leave the garage area and what happens on the track.

"You look at length of races, frequency of races. In my opinion I think a lot of our fans are just over-exposed from race lengths and then so many events."

2004 champion Kurt Busch, the first to win a Cup title under the Chase format, said the changes being considered are positive for the fans, although he would like to see more bonus points being awarded for winning a race.

"I thought it was good," said Busch. "I do think it's simpler for people to figure out. Obviously when you know you're 18 points behind someone, that's 18 spots without the bonus points and everything.

"From what I saw that [NASCAR] proposed, the one thing that they were open to is possibly giving a few more bonus points for the wins in the regular season to count towards the Chase, and I think because just maybe giving one point to someone who wins a race, putting that to your Chase points, that's only one spot, that's not equal to what we had before.

"I definitely think that they're open to that change, but I'm definitely in favour of the one to 43. I think it's going to be easier for us to figure out to be honest with you."

Last year's championship runner-up Denny Hamlin believes that the proposed alterations would not have changed the identity of the champion in recent seasons.

"I'd like to go back for myself and just do research and plug those numbers into past years and to see who comes out on top or to see how things change around and to help fine-tune it a little bit more, because in the end you still want it to be about consistency, but you have to be consistent during those 10 weeks," said Hamlin.

"When you sit there and change around points 100 different ways, we still end up with the same champion nine times out of 10 it seems like."

Double champion Tony Stewart also seemed supportive of any possible changes.

"As long as we all start the year and we understand what the point structure is and how you get the points, then you race accordingly," said Stewart.

"But it's still going to be on a situation where if you win races the points take care of itself, and as long as it's not a deal where you ever get in a situation where running 30th pays more points than winning then it shouldn't really change how you race, it's just you know if it's a 36-week deal that leads into a championship or a 10-week deal, you know how to prepare for it."

Next week NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France is expected to unveil any final changes to the championship format.

Hammers lead Barrera chaseDrivers would back Cup points change

Steve Wallace to enter Daytona 500

NASCAR Nationwide Series regular Steve Wallace will make his Sprint Cup debut next month at Daytona, driving for his father's Rusty Wallace Racing team in the season opener.

The 23-year-old, son of former Cup champion Rusty Wallace, who fields his own team in NASCAR's second-tier series, will make the jump up together with his family's outfit, which will enter the #77 Toyota Camry in the Daytona 500.

Wallace, who has finished in the top 10 in the Nationwide Series points in the past two years, will have his start in the race guaranteed after his team was able to secure a deal to have the 2010 owner points transferred from Penske Racing's #77 car of Sam Hornish Jr, who is not expected to compete for the team in the Cup series this year.

According to NASCAR rules, the top 35 cars in the owner standings from the previous year are automatically guaranteed the start in the first five races of the new season. Penske's #77 was 29th in that ranking at the end of last year.

"Starting my first Daytona 500 is definitely going to be the most exciting day of my career - make that my life - so far," said Wallace. "It's something that every kid wanting to be a racer - including me - dreams of doing one day. It's the some of the best drivers in the world competing in the biggest race in the world.

"As far as the race, my goals are simple: to stay out of trouble, earn all the respect I can from the other guys and make sure [the car] is there at the end of the race. The way restrictor plate racing goes, if we can do that, there's no telling what can happen."

Larry Carter, who was crew chief for his father Rusty on his final appearance in the Daytona 500 in 2005, when he finished 10th for Penske Racing, will be calling the shots from the pitwall for the younger Wallace on his Cup debut.

1989 Cup champion Wallace, who never claimed a Daytona 500 victory despite his 55 wins in the series, believes the new grippy asphalt at the 2.5-mile oval will make it easier for his team to be competitive on its debut as handling will no longer be as large a factor.

"When you're a young driver coming up, you dream about racing in the Daytona 500 and now Steve's going to get the opportunity to do it," said team-owner Wallace. "He's grown by leaps and bounds as a driver in the Nationwide Series over the last few years and we think he's ready for this opportunity.

"We've been looking at this race as an opportunity for a while, because I really believe that the new pavement at Daytona is going to be a great equaliser among the teams. The cars will have a tonne of grip and it's going to make handling a much smaller part of the equation."

Steve Wallace will be the fourth different member of his family to compete in the Daytona 500.

Forlan refuses to rule out moveSteve Wallace to enter Daytona 500

Steve Wallace to enter Daytona 500

NASCAR Nationwide Series regular Steve Wallace will make his Sprint Cup debut next month at Daytona, driving for his father's Rusty Wallace Racing team in the season opener.

The 23-year-old, son of former Cup champion Rusty Wallace, who fields his own team in NASCAR's second-tier series, will make the jump up together with his family's outfit, which will enter the #77 Toyota Camry in the Daytona 500.

Wallace, who has finished in the top 10 in the Nationwide Series points in the past two years, will have his start in the race guaranteed after his team was able to secure a deal to have the 2010 owner points transferred from Penske Racing's #77 car of Sam Hornish Jr, who is not expected to compete for the team in the Cup series this year.

According to NASCAR rules, the top 35 cars in the owner standings from the previous year are automatically guaranteed the start in the first five races of the new season. Penske's #77 was 29th in that ranking at the end of last year.

"Starting my first Daytona 500 is definitely going to be the most exciting day of my career - make that my life - so far," said Wallace. "It's something that every kid wanting to be a racer - including me - dreams of doing one day. It's the some of the best drivers in the world competing in the biggest race in the world.

"As far as the race, my goals are simple: to stay out of trouble, earn all the respect I can from the other guys and make sure [the car] is there at the end of the race. The way restrictor plate racing goes, if we can do that, there's no telling what can happen."

Larry Carter, who was crew chief for his father Rusty on his final appearance in the Daytona 500 in 2005, when he finished 10th for Penske Racing, will be calling the shots from the pitwall for the younger Wallace on his Cup debut.

1989 Cup champion Wallace, who never claimed a Daytona 500 victory despite his 55 wins in the series, believes the new grippy asphalt at the 2.5-mile oval will make it easier for his team to be competitive on its debut as handling will no longer be as large a factor.

"When you're a young driver coming up, you dream about racing in the Daytona 500 and now Steve's going to get the opportunity to do it," said team-owner Wallace. "He's grown by leaps and bounds as a driver in the Nationwide Series over the last few years and we think he's ready for this opportunity.

"We've been looking at this race as an opportunity for a while, because I really believe that the new pavement at Daytona is going to be a great equaliser among the teams. The cars will have a tonne of grip and it's going to make handling a much smaller part of the equation."

Steve Wallace will be the fourth different member of his family to compete in the Daytona 500.

Forlan refuses to rule out moveSteve Wallace to enter Daytona 500