During the past year, one of the main topics on the NASCAR Sprint Cup scene was the probable introduction of electronic fuel injection at the top level of professional stock-car racing.
Auto123.com talked about it with Steve Hallam, executive vice-president of competition at Michael Waltrip Racing and who was head of race operations for McLaren in Formula 1.
“We, the teams, are guided by how NASCAR want to implement new technologies, and inevitably we’ll be following their lead. We will use the approved parts that NASCAR say we must use,” said Hallam.
“Personally, I would welcome the arrival of electronic fuel injection because it is something I am more used to and I think on a broader spectrum it would enable us to be seen as being a responsible sporting organisation in managing energy resources. We need to consume less and deliver more by making the cars more efficient.”
Some people think NASCAR is dragging their feet to take a decision. Hallam says it is not the case at all. “The cautious approach NASCAR has been taking with this topic of fuel injection means that they are doing a very high degree of due deligence before they decide their precise policy. We have no precise timetable. And we won’t have that until NASCAR decides what they want to do,” he said to Auto123.com.
“I would prefer seeing everybody using a spec, well controlled fuel injection
system at the beginning. NASCAR is currently looking at the “what if” scenarios, what are be the potential issues they would have to face,” Hallam explained.
“There are many examples in the past where a new technology has been allowed to grow without bounderies and it forced the governing bodies to progressely curve issues that explode from a situation where you have a lot of clever engineers trying to push the envelope. In order to maintain a good product for the spectactor, the caution NASCAR is displaying is very wise,” Steve Hallam concluded.
Auto123.com talked about it with Steve Hallam, executive vice-president of competition at Michael Waltrip Racing and who was head of race operations for McLaren in Formula 1.
“We, the teams, are guided by how NASCAR want to implement new technologies, and inevitably we’ll be following their lead. We will use the approved parts that NASCAR say we must use,” said Hallam.
“Personally, I would welcome the arrival of electronic fuel injection because it is something I am more used to and I think on a broader spectrum it would enable us to be seen as being a responsible sporting organisation in managing energy resources. We need to consume less and deliver more by making the cars more efficient.”
Some people think NASCAR is dragging their feet to take a decision. Hallam says it is not the case at all. “The cautious approach NASCAR has been taking with this topic of fuel injection means that they are doing a very high degree of due deligence before they decide their precise policy. We have no precise timetable. And we won’t have that until NASCAR decides what they want to do,” he said to Auto123.com.
“I would prefer seeing everybody using a spec, well controlled fuel injection
system at the beginning. NASCAR is currently looking at the “what if” scenarios, what are be the potential issues they would have to face,” Hallam explained.
“There are many examples in the past where a new technology has been allowed to grow without bounderies and it forced the governing bodies to progressely curve issues that explode from a situation where you have a lot of clever engineers trying to push the envelope. In order to maintain a good product for the spectactor, the caution NASCAR is displaying is very wise,” Steve Hallam concluded.