OK, That did not last long, but I want to hear some input...to continue

The hell with that American vs. Japanese stuff, I know it's old news so why hasn't Honda responded...The only answer that I could think of is that they do not want to participate in a pretty low tech, Bubba vs. Bubba paint swap fest. Anyways sorry to offend I kinda want to see Japanese Autos dominate NASCAR because it infuriates rednecks.

 

The days of NASCAR being low-tech are long gone. Yes they might not be running turbo-charged 1.5L V-10s but that doesn't mean there isn't a tremendous amount of R&D and technology behind the teams putting cars on the track.

 

teams that do put down the technology are usually the ones with alot of money, and that to depends on the sponsorers and such, not ford or chevy. If the asians (more comprehensive) did come, i'd bet their car would win because of the lightweight driver, much more better car and the better brains...

 

Maybe Honda wanted some other Japanese manufacturer be the guinea pig to enter NASCAR. At least all import manufacturers know how they will be welcomed if they ever decide to enter NASCAR.

 

Any manufacturers decision to go racing is a marketing decision.....where can they spend their money to sell the most cars. If they can sell more cars buying ads on tv than by going racing then that's where they will be.

 

Teams are spending millions of dollars each year. Each engine costs close to $100,00o to build and most teams have multiple engines for each type of track.

 

I hate NASCAR with a passion. I'm glad Honda isn't in NASCAR although the IRL isn't much better. Give me Formula1 any day of the week.

 

This is very true. Teams such as DEI and Roush have the money to spend on R&D. Some teams such as Robby Gordon are struggling to come up with money to just race.

 

I tend to agree with this "guinea pig" idea, but I think Honda is so focused on the IRL that they havent spent much time researching what is takes to be in NASCAR, IMO.

 

I dont think it is the only reason why they enter NASCAR, but it does make a difference. The old saying, "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday."

 

To each his own. I am not a big fan of F1. In fact, that is the one of the few motorsports that I dislike. I will pretty much anything from NASCAR to NHRA to WRC to IRL.

 

I would have to say the opposite, I hate NASCAR, but I started watching it religously because it's in HD, that picture is like heroin for your eyes. Anyways, they build the cars for around 200K and beat the crap out of them then throw them away kinda like the rental car industry that is dominated too with American builds. F1 the cars cost about 16 mil and they use the 4 mil engine twice, salvage most of it because it's built out of un-obtain-ium. That sport is ridiculous fast and tech driven, drivers are crazy good. Soon we will see Juan Pablo Montoya dominate NASCAR. So if F1 was in HD I think I would never waste time watching any Oval track race. By the way Toyota out spent Honda again in F1 team Budgets 520 mil. You will never see a NASCAR team spend 1/2 a billion for 2 cars. (low tech...realitively)

 

Isn't NASCRAP still running carburetors and push-rod engines? Why would a company (Toyota) that doesn't make any push-rod engine for their street cars go out of its way to develop a push-rod engine just for NASCRAP?

 

That's what I don't understand. NASCAR is so backwards. The series was originally derived as a racing series that was production car based. I would be a bit more interested in the series if they updated the cars. Put a modern DOHC engine with fuel injection in the cars and an independent rear suspension.

 

 

That's exactly why Honda is in other racing series, but not NASCAR. Honda doesn't have any cars with carburetors and doesn't use V-8s (let alone pushrod V-8s). NASCAR participation wouldn't help Honda's research engineers or technology application as much as F-1, ALMS, etc.
My read is that Toyota is doing NASCAR for PR and marketing reasons while Honda does not believe such an effort would benefit its marketing. I pay attention to NASCAR, but it's based on antiquated powertrain technology in tube-and-frame racing chassis with bodies that visually sort of resemble street cars (but the Taurus, Monte Carlo and Camry are FWD, not RWD, etc...) rather than "stock" cars.

 

Although I understand cost concerns to be the underlying reason for contemporary NASCAR racing, IMHO yesteryear's NASCAR really should have evolved into a modern day touring car championship. (i.e.: FIA WTCC) <---- I would be A LOT more inclined to watch this.

That said, Toyota's Camry entry and JPM's rookie season are compelling enough for me to watch NASCAR's Nextel Cup MUCH more than in previous years.

 

It's all part of marketing. Believe it or not, Nascar is the country's fastest growing, if not the top sport. Who mainly watches Nascar? Rednecks in the southern belt that drive pickup trucks! There is a reason why Toyota is closing in on the number one spot of automobile sales! They are trying to hit all the gaps and if they are successful in nascar, I'm sure it will directly be proportional to its sales.

 

According to the Acura rep who was presenting when I was there, that's their F1 car.

 

So just because the motor isnt DOHC its crap? thats great thinking. Honda DOES have a V8 in racing. Its in IRL which is joke now days and is a worse motor sport than nascar. Must be fun to race against yourself. Honda stated they had no interest in following Toyota into nascar, which i think is dumb. We will see how long that lasts. Honda should spend less in irl and look into nascar. I think its good that toyota got into nascar. Honda should follow suit. Its great marketing, and having more than 2-3 manufacturers in a racing series is better racing. 08 should be better when they change more rules in nascar and the cars themselves as well

 

are you for real? how does one work for a car company and not know what an lpm vs F1 car looks like

 

There are more and more people out there representing Acura on a corporate level that have no clue as to where Honda and Acura are in the competitive motor sports arena...sad, I had a guy tell me at the dealership, who was suppose to be some big corporate guy, tell me that since Michelin is going to dominate F1 and partner with Acura for many more years they are recommending dealerships use them exclusively. Well dude, F1's sole provider for tires for the next 10 years will be exclusivley Bridgestone. Talk about being out of touch! He couldn't even tell me who Honda's F1 drivers are after sputtering all this "in the know F1 news".