38 Team (Kvapil) fixin to get HAMMERED for Illegal Valves

[slorydn1]

Illegal bleeder valves on the #38 at Pocono? UPDATE: Record penalty? Sources tell Sirius NASCAR Radio's Sirius Speedway with Dave Moody that NASCAR discovered clandestine [secrecy or concealed] air pressure bleeder valves on the tires of Travis Kvapil's #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Sunday at Pocono Raceway. Following the rain delay, NASCAR officials reportedly observed two soft tires on the rear of Kvapil's car and held him from rolling back onto the track for the start of the race. Closer examination of those tire and wheel assemblies allegedly revealed illegal bleeder valves, which purge excess air pressure from the tires as it accumulates under race conditions. If confirmed, the team would likely face a major NASCAR penalty, since tires are considered to be one of the sanctions "untouchable" items, along with engines and fuel............

http://jayski.com/cupnews.htm#news38tue

Jayski goes on to say record fine and points penalty forthcoming

WTF were they thinking?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? :confused:

[NickFalzone]

http://jayski.com/cupnews.htm#news38tue

Jayski goes on to say record fine and points penalty forthcoming

WTF were they thinking?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? :confused:

If it aint cheatin', it aint tryin'?

You're not cheating unless you get caught?

The only difference between Kvapil's team, and let's say for example the 48, is that Kvapil's team is not rich enough to hide blatant cheating. U can be sure that most other teams running up front are bending the rules one way or other, and I can guarantee you that Kvapil's team was not the first nor the last that will try messing around with the tires.

[slorydn1]

Look there are two areas of the car that a team should know that they just CAN NOT mess with: The engine and the tires. Nascar has proved time and time again no matter what the era, those two areas are sooo off limits. Mess with the rest of the car, and a small points penalty, fine, probation and/or short vacation for the crew chief. Mess with the engine or tires and it gets real ugly from there.

[00steven]

The team knew what they were doing and took a chance ... a very dumb one. I do feel bad for Travis Kvapil though. He just got another chance at cup and now he's going to have to qualify his way into every race. But the way that team switches car numbers every week who knows?

[slorydn1]

UPDATE 2: NASCAR has issued penalties, suspensions and fines to the #38 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of rules infractions committed during last Sunday's event at Pocono Raceway. The team was found to be in violation of Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4-J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-10.7J (unapproved modification to valve stem hardware) of the 2010 NASCAR Rule Book. As a result, crew chief Steve Lane has been fined $100,000, suspended for the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Sept. 15 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Car chief Richard Bourgeois and tire specialist Michael Harrold have also been suspended from the next 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup events, suspended from NASCAR until Sept. 15 and placed on probation until Dec. 31. Driver Travis Kvapil and owner Doug Yates have been penalized with the loss of 150 driver and 150 owner points, respectively.(NASCAR)(6-9-2010)

http://jayski.com/cupnews.htm#news38tue

Front Row Motorsports will appeal

[Alexamateo]

Just curious, why are bleeder valves banned? They seem like a good idea and I can't imagine they would be that expensive in the vast scheme of things, so if it's not cost or safety, why?

[slorydn1]

Just curious, why are bleeder valves banned? They seem like a good idea and I can't imagine they would be that expensive in the vast scheme of things, so if it's not cost or safety, why?

I'm not really sure...It makes sense to control the amount of build up in the tire to help them last longer....but then Nascar has a history of banning things that make sense....

[Lee Roy]

Just curious, why are bleeder valves banned? They seem like a good idea and I can't imagine they would be that expensive in the vast scheme of things, so if it's not cost or safety, why?

Why have them? I doubt they would add anything. They valves probabaly don't cost all that much in and of themselves, but the testing and engineering around trying to perfect them would be an added cost for very little benefit.

What racing series allows bleeder valves? Seems to be a fairly universal thing throughout the industry. Even the most exotic racing series, F1 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, don't have them as far as I know.

[Lee Roy]

I'm not really sure...It makes sense to control the amount of build up in the tire to help them last longer....but then Nascar has a history of banning things that make sense....

Conversely, how many tire failures would there be from drivers "bleeding out a little air to get a softer tire" and over-do it. Goodyear has a hard time building a tire that will last now.

Add it continutual manipulation by the drivers/teams beyond what they do now with tire pressures . . . . . . .

Then everyone would complain because NASCAR allows it. HAHAHAHA

Hey, if it's such a good idea, why doesn't F1 and Le Mans do it?

[slorydn1]

Conversely, how many tire failures would there be from drivers "bleeding out a little air to get a softer tire" and over-do it. Goodyear has a hard time building a tire that will last now.

Add it continutual manipulation by the drivers/teams beyond what they do now with tire pressures . . . . . . .

Then everyone would complain because NASCAR allows it. HAHAHAHA

Hey, if it's such a good idea, why doesn't F1 and Le Mans do it?

Good point....

[Alexamateo]

Conversely, how many tire failures would there be from drivers "bleeding out a little air to get a softer tire" and over-do it. Goodyear has a hard time building a tire that will last now.

Add it continutual manipulation by the drivers/teams beyond what they do now with tire pressures . . . . . . .



I would say that's a good reason not to have them then. Thanks!