Results tagged “Toyota” from Haddock in the Paddock

Jim Aust, the president and chief executive officer for Toyota Racing Development, based in Costa Mesa, said he is retiring at the end of June, leaving a position he has held with Toyota for the past 10 years.
Under Aust, Toyota entered a number of motor sports arenas, including the Indy Racing League, NASCAR and the old CART series. Toyota also has teams in off-road racing, USAC open wheel racing and sports car racing.
“There are a lot of great memories, made possible by the hard work of the people at TRD and the great teams and drivers running with Toyota power,” Aust said. “There was Toyota’s first CART win by Juan Pablo Montoya, Gil de Ferran’s Indy 500 win, a CART championship for Cristiano da Matta and an IRL championship for Scott Dixon, Johnny Greaves’ multiple championships in CORR, Todd Bodine’s championship in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the three-peat by Ganassi Racing in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Seeing a Camry compete in the Daytona 500 last year for the first time was very special and I expect to see Toyota’s first Sprint Cup victory before I retire in June.”
In addition to retiring from his post at Toyota Racing Development, Aust will step down as vice president of motorsports for Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc.
“Jim has played an integral role in the growth of Toyota’s racing activities in the U.S.,” said Dave Illingworth, TMS senior vice president, chief planning and administrative officer. “From the high banks of NASCAR to short track midget racing, drag racing, sports cars and off-road trucks, Toyotas are now racing and winning at tracks across the country."

Toyota showed no signs of slowing after posting impressive times and speeds in preseason testing. Denny Hamlin, driving the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, won his Gatorade Duel qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway. Dale Jarrett, in the No. 44 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing, finished high enough in his duel race to qualify for the Daytona 500. And finally, Tony Stewart and Hamlin posted a 1-2 finish in their duel race and perhaps gave everyone a preview of how tough it's going to be to beat Toyota at Daytona.
Toyota, in its second year of Cup competition, has been surprisingly fast during testing at Daytona, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and California Speedway. The Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, Hamlin, Stewart and Kyle Busch, were expected to have top times. But Waltrip almost won the pole for the Daytona 500, finishing only second to Jimmie Johnson in qualifying.
Then Jarrett, without the comfort of a champion's provisional after Kurt Busch lost a motor in the first duel and had to use his provisional to qualify for the Daytona 500, raced his way into what will be his last Daytona 500.
As strong as Toyotas looked in the duels at Daytona, Hamlin said he is looking forward to races at California Speedway and Las Vegas.
“I'm actually a little more excited about the races to come -- the mile-and-a-half, two-mile racetracks -- California, Vegas, those race tracks," Hamlin said. "All the hard work that we did in the off-season, that's where it's going to show up, not necessarily here at Daytona. Here at Daytona you're going to see what hard work paid off in the engine room, both from Mark Cronquist and the engine guys at JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) and TRD (Toyota Racing Development). That's what's going to show up at the race track this weekend. Everything we worked on in the off-season will show up the rest of the races throughout the season. We definitely know we have the engine thing heading in the right direction right now. We just got to make sure we've got the mechanical stuff working.”

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin had the fastest lap in the morning test session for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams at California Speedway. It was another fast day for Toyota, which has posted top speeds during the two previous preseason test sessions at Daytona Internationals Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Joe Gibbs Racing switched engine manufacturers over the winter, from Chevrolets to Toyotas, and has been surprisingly fast in testing.
“I think the guys at Gibbs are going to run really well,” said Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. “The talent is spectacular. The drivers, they’re as good as anyone in the garage. For that reason, I think they’re going to be tough.”

Tony Stewart and Hamlin made the Chase last year driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. Kyle Busch, a newcomer to the team, made the Chase last year driving for Hendrick Motorsports, which also used Chevrolet power.
Toyota made its debut in Cup last year and didn’t win a race or have a driver in the Chase. But Toyota drivers, and not just the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, have been fast in testing and look strong so far.
“I don’t believe that Toyota has shown any real weakness or anything,” Edwards said. “They’re going to be really tough competitors. I’m hoping it will make it that much more fun to beat them with my Ford. I hope they don’t run away with anything. But I think they’re going to be tough.”

For what it’s worth, Toyota has looked uncharacteristically fast in preseason testing at Daytona International Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway this month.
The drivers for Joe Gibbs Racing — Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch — have been particularly fast. Hamlin and Busch had the top two cars in the test sessions at Las Vegas on Monday.
Stewart wasn’t too far behind.
Even Dave Blaney, who drives a Toyota for Bill Davis Racing, and A.J. Allmendinger, one of the Toyota drivers for Red Bull Racing, posted impressive times at Daytona.
Preseason testing continues today and Friday at California Speedway, the first time NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow will be on the Fontana track.
Joe Gibbs Racing made the daring, some might say foolhardy, move from Chevrolet to Toyota engines in the offseason. Stewart and Hamlin made the Chase, the 10-race playoff to determine the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, last year with Chevrolet engines. Busch, who moved from Hendrick Motorsports to Joe Gibbs Racing in the offseason, made the Chase last year, too.
No Toyota driver qualified for the Chase. Only one Toyota team finished in the top 35 in the crucial owners standings. The top 35 teams in the owners standings earn automatic starting spots in Cup races.
While it’s hard to get too excited about testing times and speeds, Hamlin and Busch said they liked the results so far.
“Yeah, I mean, we definitely didn’t think going into this year that we were going to have growing pains by switching manufacturers,” said Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. “Had we had the old car where we really don’t know the aero advantages, yeah, we definitely would have been a little bit more concerned.”
The change appears to be going smoothly at Joe Gibbs Racing. Other Toyota teams have shown significant signs of improvement, too.
Hamlin said the changes have not been that drastic.
“But we know we’ve got basically the same body as what we had last year,” Hamlin said. “All we’re dealing with is different horsepower. Really there’s going to be no transition for us, going hopefully to be as competitive if not more competitive. The way it’s looking, we’re going to be more competitive than what we were last year.”
That would be an impressive jump for Toyota.
“It's been pretty cool to come out here — as well as the Atlanta and Daytona test — and be fast at all of them,” said Busch, driver of the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. “Hopefully we will be able to go to California and do the same thing. We knew the manufacturer wasn’t going to be a hold back, that’s why we made the swap.”
What’s scary is that the teams from Joe Gibbs Racing haven’t showed their full hands yet.
“This is still TRD’s (Toyota Racing Development) motor package in this car — it isn’t a Gibbs motor package,” Busch said, “so I can only presume that we will come back here with more.”

The second group of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers began three days of tests at Daytona International Speedway on Monday.

As he prepares to run the first five races of the season, Dale Jarrett was fastest in Monday morning's Preseason Thunder testing session at Daytona International Speedway.
Sam Greenwood / Getty Images for NASCAR

Three-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett led the way in a Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing in the morning session. Toyota drivers were once again among the fastest with Dave Blaney and Brian Vickers joining Jarrett with top times and speeds in the afternoon session.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. also had a fast car, second best in both tests.

Jeff Burton visited his brother Ward over Christmas. Ward Burton won the 2002 Daytona 500 for Bill Davis Racing. Jeff Burton has yet to win a Daytona 500.
Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images for NASCAR

Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, has yet to win a Daytona 500. But his brother, Ward Burton, won the Daytona 500 in 2002 driving for Bill Davis Racing. Ward Burton is no longer racing at the Cup level, but Jeff Burton said his brother leaves a subtle reminder about his racing days.
“Over Christmas I went to Ward’s house and his Daytona 500 trophy was in his house there," Burton said. "You know, I don’t know what it was about it, but I saw that trophy and it was like it was the first I had ever seen it. My son was down there, he’s 7, and I said, ‘You know what that is?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, that’s the Daytona 500 trophy.’ It was pretty special seeing that trophy."
Bill Davis Racing is one of the Toyota teams now. Blaney is racing the team's No. 22 car and had some good runs in the first day of testing.
“Ward is obviously not in a position to have a ride right now," Jeff Burton said. "Having that trophy sitting there, that’s the biggest race you can possibly win in our sport. That’s something that no one can ever take away from him and that’s something that he’ll always cherish on his family will. That’s a special thing."
Burton's teammate, Kevin Harvick, won last year's Daytona 500. All three of the Richard Childress Racing drivers qualified for the Chase last year. But Jeff Burton said he winning the Daytona 500 would be special.
“Any win is a big win, but if you look at a trophy like that and have that sitting in your house, that’s a different kind of win," Jeff Burton said. "It’s one of those that lasts forever and it has so much meaning, the importance of it. The 50th running only enlightens and enhances that. It would be really special.”

Here's a look at the times from Monday's test sessions:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Morning testing speeds from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing in preparation for the 50th running of the Daytona 500:

1. 44B, Dale Jarrett, Toyota, 48.652, 184.987
2. 88B, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 48.742, 184.646
3. 40, Dario Franchitti, Dodge, 48.832, 184.305
4. 44A, Dale Jarrett, Toyota, 48.854, 184.222
5. 20A, Tony Stewart, Toyota, 48.968, 183.793
6. 11B, Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 49.035, 183.542
7. 22, Dave Blaney, Toyota, 49.039, 183.527
8. 22B, Dave Blaney, Toyota, 49.099, 183.303
9. 55, Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 49.100, 183.299
10. 83A, Brian Vickers, Toyota, 49.116, 183.240
11. 87, Jeff Fuller, Chevrolet, 49.123, 183.214
12. 88A, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet, 49.154, 183.098
13. 55M, Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 49.164, 183.061
14. 38A, David Gilliland, Ford, 49.186, 182.979
15. 11A, Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 49.200, 182.927
16. 40A, Dario Franchitti, Dodge, 49.224, 182.838
17. 83B, Brian Vickers, Toyota, 49.226, 182.830
18. 20B, Tony Stewart, Toyota, 49.239, 182.782
19. 38B, David Gilliland, Ford, 49.332, 182.437
20. 60B, Boris Said, Ford, 49.394, 182.208
21. 66H, Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, 49.399, 182.190
22. 9B, Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 49.411, 182.146
23. 26A, Jamie McMurray, Ford, 49.463, 181.954
24. 12A, Ryan Newman, Dodge, 49.476, 181.906
25. 21A, Bill Elliott, Ford, 49.482, 181.884
26. 6B, David Ragan, Ford, 49.486, 181.870
27. 9A, Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 49.491, 181.851
28. 34A, Eric McClure, Dodge, 49.493, 181.844
29. 01B, Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 49.499, 181.822
30. 21B, Bill Elliott, Ford, 49.557, 181.609
31. 43B, Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 49.559, 181.602
32. 43A, Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 49.561, 181.594
33. 66C, Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, 49.587, 181.499
34. 6A, David Ragan, Ford, 49.591, 181.485
35. 26B, Jaime McMurray, Ford, 49.607, 181.426
36. 10B, Patrick Carpentier, Dodge, 49.618, 181.386
37. 15B, Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 49.650, 181.269
38. 12B, Ryan Newman Dodge, 49.670, 181.196
39. 60A, Boris Said, Ford, 49.689, 181.127
40. 77A, Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 49.708, 181.057
41. 77B, Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 49.762, 180.861
42 31A, Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 49.794, 180.745
43. 31, Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 49.796, 180.737
44. 15A, Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 49.814, 180.672
45. 01A, Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 49.817, 180.661
46. 29A, Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 49.849, 180.545
47. 50A, Stanton Barrett, Chevrolet, 49.923, 180.278
48. 49A, John Andretti, Dodge, 49.930, 180.252
49. 29B, Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 49.995, 180.018
50. 09A, Sterling Marlin, Chevrolet, 50.313, 178.880

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Afternoon testing speeds from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing in preparation for the 50th running of the Daytona 500:

1. 22B, Dave Blaney, Toyota, 48.532, 185.445
2. 88B, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 48.537, 185.426
3. 83A, Brian Vickers, Toyota, 48.568, 185.307
4. 44A, Dale Jarrett, Toyota, 48.572, 185.292
5. 55, Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 48.589, 185.227
6. 20A, Tony Stewart, Toyota, 48.624, 185.094
7. 55M, Michael Waltrip, Toyota, 48.637, 185.044
8. 44B, Dale Jarrett, Toyota, 48.676, 184.896
9. 83B, Brian Vickers, Toyota, 48.701, 184.801
10. 40, Dario Franchitti, Dodge, 48.718, 184.737
11. 11B, Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 48.766, 184.555
12. 22, Dave Blaney, Toyota, 48.879, 184.128
13. 11A, Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 48.898, 184.057
14. 38A, David Gilliland, Ford ,48.957, 183.835
15. 12A, Ryan Newman, Dodge, 49.027, 183.572
16. 21A, Bill Elliott, Ford, 49.071, 183.408
17. 40A, Dario Franchitti, Dodge, 49.074, 183.397
18. 87, Jeff Fuller, Chevrolet, 49.100, 183.299
19. 88A, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 49.102, 183.292
20. 9B, Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 49.127, 183.199
21. 38B, David Gilliland, Ford, 49.144, 183.135
22. 6B, David Ragan, Ford, 49.162, 183.068
23. 10C, Patrick Carpentier, Dodge, 49.212, 182.882
24. 34A, Eric McClure, Dodge, 49.228, 182.823
25. 21B, Bill Elliott, Ford, 49.234, 182.801
26. 43A, Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 49.241, 182.775
27. 26A, Jamie McMurray, Ford, 49.262, 182.697
28. 60B, Boris Said, Ford, 49.268, 182.674
29. 15A, Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 49.276, 182.645
30. 66H, Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, 49.301, 182.552
31. 01B, Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 49.302, 182.548
32. 12B, Ryan Newman, Dodge, 49.331, 182.441
33. 26B, Jamie McMurray, Ford, 49.356, 182.349
34. 6A, David Ragan, Ford, 49.395, 182.205
35. 31A, Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 49.424, 182.098
36. 15B, Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 49.444, 182.024
37. 60A, Boris Said, Ford, 49.453, 181.991
38. 66C, Scott Riggs, Chevrolet, 49.455, 181.984
39. 29A, Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 49.467, 181.939
40. 9A, Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 49.489, 181.859
41. 10B, Patrick Carpentier, Dodge, 49.492, 181.848
42. 31, Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 49.506, 181.796
43. 77A, Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge, 49.526, 181.723
44. 77B, Sam Hornish Jr., Dodge , 49.619, 181.382
45. 50A, Stanton Barrett, Chevrolet, 49.696, 181.101
46. 43B, Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 49.701, 181.083
47. 49A, Ken Schrader, Dodge, 49.740, 180.941
48. 09A, Sterling Marlin, Chevrolet, 49.941, 180.213
49. 29B, Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 50.003, 179.989
50. 49B, Ken Schrader, Dodge, 50.168, 179.397
51. 09B, Sterling Marlin, Chevrolet, 50.183, 179.344
52. 08A, Carl Long, Dodge, 50.764, 177.291
53. 57A, Norm Benning, Chevrolet, 50.889, 176.856

No. 96 Hall of Fame Racing crew chief Brandon Thomas meets with his new driver J.J. Yeley in the garage at Daytona International Speedway.
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR

Toyota drivers J.J. Yeley, pictured at left, and A.J. Allmendinger were among those testing at Daytona International Speedway. For Allmendinger, it was his second year with the Red Bull Racing Team.
Yeley is in his first year with Hall of Fame Racing, a satellite team of Joe Gibbs Racing. He was in the No. 18 car for Gibbs last year, but was moved to the No. 96 car for Hall of Fame Racing, in part to make room for Kyle Busch, who is the new driver of the No. 18 car.
Two of the big three for Joe Gibbs Racing were not part of the test. Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin will have their first test sessions on Jan. 14. Busch was part of the test Monday, one of five Toyotas on the track.
Yeley didn't offer too many details about his test, but said it was good for his team.
“We’re pretty happy with how things went," Yeley said. "We were playing with some things during the first session, but so far, I’m real impressed with the Toyota engine and the car here at Daytona.”
Allmendinger said he was encouraged by his first test. It was quite a difference from last year's first tests in the Toyotas.
“We weren’t bad this morning," said Allmendinger, driver of the No. 84 Toyota for Red Bull Racing. "Our guys did a lot of work to get the bodies right in the off-season and Toyota has stepped up their game. It’s a combination of everything. We’re only three hours in to a long process, but last year at this time, I don’t think we were ahead of anyone after the first session. We’ve definitely had a better start and that gives us something to build on.”

The biggest victory Toyota had last year was not on the race track. It was in the garage.
Joe Gibbs Racing, with drivers Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, will be part of the Toyota family next year. Hall of Fame Racing, with J.J. Yeley as driver of the No. 96 car, will also join the Toyota clan next year.
Heighten expectations and results will no doubt follow. Toyota can point to two poles and two top-five finishes in its first year of NASCAR Nextel Cup Series competition, but it will have to do much better than that for Joe Gibbs Racing.
“There have been meetings on projects we can share with JGR and things we can do to help the learning curve,” said Michael Waltrip, owner and driver for the three-car Michael Waltrip Racing. “We have a lot of respect for that organization -- they’ve been around a long time and been in contention for and won championships. We really look forward to being able to work with them on projects as we head into 2008.”