February 14, 2007
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Michael Waltrip's crew chief and team director were thrown out of the Daytona 500 and suspended indefinitely Wednesday because an illegal substance was found during inspection for the season-opening race.
Waltrip, docked 100 points, will be allowed to participate in Thursday's races that determine the field for NASCAR's biggest event of the year.
David Hyder, his crew chief, was thrown out of the garage and fined $100,000. Team director Bobby Kennedy also was kicked out.
NASCAR officials would not reveal what they found in Waltrip's intake manifold, but a person with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press it was a form of jet fuel.
``I don't think this is anything that we've seen in the recent past,'' said competition director Robin Pemberton.
The illegal substance was found inside the intake manifold of Waltrip's new Toyota Camry before qualifying for the Daytona 500 on Sunday. NASCAR seized the part and shipped it back to North Carolina for analysis, and spent all day Wednesday pulling parts and pieces from under the hood.
The manifold is a part of the engine that supplies the fuel/air mix to the engine cylinders. Waltrip's team coated the inside of it with an illegal substance that is believed to be a gelatin form of jet fuel, according to the same official, who requested anonymity because NASCAR had not announced its penalties at the time.
Waltrip's team maintains it was oil.
Adding the substance, described as an oxygenate, would boost the octane in the fuel, thus making the engine run better at higher horsepower.
--snip--
Or should I say
WHOOOSHHH!!!!
Oops!
I'm curious, Jet fuel, just a higher grade of kerosene?
That won't boost octane at all. And it was on the exhaust side?
This is not making sense.
How long could that last?
Kenseth and Khane chasing the chase, Waltrip chasing the 35 owners points.