NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
QUAKER STATE 400
KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY NOTES & QUOTES
JULY 7, 2011
In preparation for the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway this weekend, competitors will participate in an extended practice & testing session today, Thursday, July 7, to prepare for the Quaker State 400. During this session, teams and manufacturers have the opportunity to test the development of electronic fuel injection (EFI) in the first official test on a NASCAR sanctioned track. There will be further testing and development throughout 2011 to prepare for entry into the sport full time beginning February 2012 at the Daytona 500.
Statement from Jim Campbell, GM U.S. Vice President Performance Vehicles and Motorsports regarding the first official EFI test on a NASCAR-sanctioned track:
“The test at Kentucky Speedway is another step toward the introduction of fuel injection for the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. One of our key priorities at Chevrolet is to incorporate relevant technologies into our race cars that link to our production cars. The use of fuel injection in NASCAR competition will improve engine efficiency without compromising performance.
Statement from Pat Suhy, GM Racing NASCAR Group Manager, regarding the first official EFI test on a NASCAR-sanctioned track:
“The change to fuel injection in 2012 is another step that NASCAR is taking to increase the relevance of technology in the Sprint Cup Series. Every small block Chevrolet engine is port fuel injected. That same technology will now be applied to the Chevy R07 engine that’s been so successful in NASCAR in carbureted form.
“Our GM Powertrain NASCAR engine engineers have worked to design and validate new fuel injection specific intake manifolds. They have added provisions for mounting the injectors and the fuel rail, and have optimized the runner designs.
“This first official NASCAR track test at Kentucky Speedway is an opportunity for our engine builders to see how their systems and calibrations perform in an environment that’s as close to race conditions as they’ve been run. Teams will mount additional sensors similar to what’s on the production engines, to monitor several functions that the new engine control units (ECU) need to control fuel and spark delivery. There are oxygen sensors to monitor the air-fuel ratio, a throttle position sensor, cam and crank position sensors to control injection and spark timing, to name just a few.
“During the test, every supplier with a new component on the engines will be on hand to see how their parts perform, and to address concerns and issues. The engine tuners will be exercising the trackside tools, now laptops instead of carburetor jets and distributor wrenches, which will be used on race weekends to tune the engines.
“NASCAR will be learning too. They have the job of inspecting and measuring critical engine components on every car, every weekend. This will be their inspectors’ first opportunity to observe several teams’ set-ups in one place and to undergo the inspection process. It’s going to be a busy day for everyone involved, and is a critical step in making sure that everything runs smoothly when we see the first fuel injected race in 2012.”
About Chevrolet: Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 140 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com ce5&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.chevrolet.com%2f> .
