Flash.. Volkswagen coming to Nascar in 2012 [Archive]

Jonesi

2nd October 2010, 02:16

From jayski:
Volkswagen to NASCAR? Penske? denied: The latest entry into America's most popular motorsports series could very well be the first ever from Germany. According to Matthias Muller, the newly appointed CEO of Porsche, Volkswagen Group -- his employer's parent company -- is considering entering NASCAR. Should it follow through, Volkswagen would be just the second foreign automaker to participate in NASCAR. Toyota was first, entering the competition in 2007. The German automaker will reportedly begin discussions with NASCAR officials once the current season ends in late November. One of the owners that Volkswagen is considering team up with is Roger Penske.(Motortrend (http://wot.motortrend.com/6690148/motorsports/new-porsche-head-hints-at-volkswagen-nascar-entry/index.html))
BUT Penske Racing will not be switching from Dodges to Volkswagens in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next year, nor will the German automaker be fielding cars in America's premier stock-car series in 2011. Beyond that, though, VW could make a play to race stock cars. The operant word there being "could," as the automaker has not petitioned NASCAR to go racing next year. Sources at Penske Racing told SPEED.com that it is the team's "full intent" to continue fielding Dodges next year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series. Furthermore, sources at NASCAR said that while Volkswagen officials intermittently have expressed a casual "interest in NASCAR," the German automaker has not taken any of the steps necessary to be granted approval to race in NASCAR. In order to be approved to compete, VW or any other automaker would have to formally submit its race car and engine package to NASCAR. That has not happened, NASCAR officials told SPEED.com Thursday. And even if VW wanted to race in NASCAR, the earliest a car could be approved would be for the 2012 season.(SPEED (http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-roger-penske-to-vw-not-next-year/))(10-1-2010)

Unlikely to happen, they probably look at 4 or 5 race series and there's only a 50/50 chance they will enter even one of them. Nascar is probably not a good fit for either Porsche, Audi or VW racing cultures.

Mark in Oshawa

2nd October 2010, 03:44

VW in NASCAR? I will believe it when I see it...

beachbum

2nd October 2010, 03:51

VW in NASCAR? I will believe it when I see it...There are probably some in the parking lot....................

maximilian

2nd October 2010, 04:13

I think they should use the Beetle as the platform, and make the cars the characteristic shape :D

call_me_andrew

2nd October 2010, 06:01

I could imagine VW getting into NASCAR. Especially if NASCAR can ditch the technophobia.

Though of all the German brands, I would have sooner expected this from BMW.

I think they should use the Beetle as the platform, and make the cars the characteristic shape :D

It'll never fit Dr. Claw.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2007/0918/rpm_g_COT_275.jpg

edv

2nd October 2010, 14:48

VW's biggest hurdle would be to find an engineer familiar with that 'carburetor' thingy. LOL

Steve-o

2nd October 2010, 15:14

VW in NASCAR? I will believe it when I see it...

Agreed. These are the people who came to the minivan party 10 years after the minivan was dead and buried. I don't see the benefit to an automaker that clearly wishes to be more BMW than GM.

Easy Drifter

2nd October 2010, 15:25

Copse

2nd October 2010, 15:47

Agreed. These are the people who came to the minivan party 10 years after the minivan was dead and buried. I don't see the benefit to an automaker that clearly wishes to be more BMW than GM.

1950? I don't know how poor your knowledge about the rest of the world is, but if you think introducing a minivan late is a notable thing about VW, then you can't know much.

But, you are right on your second point: Being part of the NASCAR community will not do them any good.

Steve-o

2nd October 2010, 15:55

1950? I don't know how poor your knowledge about the rest of the world is, but if you think introducing a minivan late is a notable thing about VW, then you can't know much.

But, you are right on your second point: Being part of the NASCAR community will not do them any good.

I was speaking of the Routan, not the VW bus. I don't think folks consider that classic to be in the minivan class. The Routan came to market to compete with the Odyssey's and Caravan's of the world, not carry on the mantle of the Bus, or the Euro Van.

Copse

2nd October 2010, 16:07

I was speaking of the Routan, not the VW bus. I don't think folks consider that classic to be in the minivan class. The Routan came to market to compete with the Odyssey's and Caravan's of the world, not carry on the mantle of the Bus, or the Euro Van.

I see. I guess I've learnt something then. Seems like a strange choice from VW to put their badge on that one. Without seeing the logo on the front, who could have guessed it was supposed to be VW? The existence of that abomination actually makes me think I could be wrong about them and NASCAR. If they think their presence in the US can look like that, then they could actually believe they fit into NASCAR.

Steve-o

2nd October 2010, 16:18

I see. I guess I've learnt something then. Seems like a strange choice from VW to put their badge on that one. Without seeing the logo on the front, who could have guessed it was supposed to be VW? The existence of that abomination actually makes me think I could be wrong about them and NASCAR. If they think their presence in the US can look like that, then they could actually believe they fit into NASCAR.

That one is a real head scratcher for me as well. This company in general has made some errors in judging the marketplace here in the US. They came to market with the Toureg, while other core products suffered with sludge buildup in the 1.8t and window regulator issues with Golf/Jetta. The Toureg was an engineering marvel, designed to compete with Lexus. But the factory did not support the dealer body when it came to servicing these customers. Initially, dealers were left to fend for rentals, while our Lexus counterparts were put in replacement Lexus', leaving the dealer body with egg on face.

Mark in Oshawa

3rd October 2010, 08:08

Agreed. These are the people who came to the minivan party 10 years after the minivan was dead and buried. I don't see the benefit to an automaker that clearly wishes to be more BMW than GM.

The Minivan isn't dead and buried....just has been usurped by the SUV...which when you think of it is the least efficient way to carry what a minivan does so well.

Naah, VW just is trying to round out their line up, and they buy the Routan from Chrysler. The line in Windsor ON turning out the Caravan is also making Routans....

call_me_andrew

4th October 2010, 02:57

The SUV and the Minivan are both dead; however, their offspring, the Crossover, is on a quest for world domination.

Steve-o

4th October 2010, 23:27

The SUV and the Minivan are both dead; however, their offspring, the Crossover, is on a quest for world domination.

Agreed.

rv65

5th October 2010, 02:09

VW's biggest hurdle would be to find an engineer familiar with that 'carburetor' thingy. LOL

Not really as by then NASCAR will have moved on to fuel injection.

wbcobrar

6th October 2010, 00:24

Mark in Oshawa

6th October 2010, 20:52

The SUV and the Minivan are both dead; however, their offspring, the Crossover, is on a quest for world domination.

The Crossover is just another SUV like critter. And the Minivan isn't dead yet....

VW wants to make inroads into America, and it started by putting a CUV/SUV in their lineup and then adding the Routan. Sounds like a German car make looking at America more seriously to me..and the last step of of that would be in theory going to NASCAR...

VW in NASCAR sounds hard to believe...but I thought I would never see Toyota our there either...

call_me_andrew

7th October 2010, 02:13

An SUV is designed to go offroad, a crossover is not. A crossover is just a minivan chassis without the sliding door and wedge shape.

Mark in Oshawa

7th October 2010, 07:50

An SUV is designed to go offroad, a crossover is not. A crossover is just a minivan chassis without the sliding door and wedge shape.

Really? Explain then how people who buy Nissan Rogues view their car? Crossover? No...SUV? no...Crossover? No one can be sure...the lines are blurred. Most people never drove their SUV offroad anyhow..and I suspect half of them didn't know how to run the AWD or 4WD on.

The reality of it is, Crossovers are designed to look and feel like an SUV while yes, having car or van underpinnings but lets not kid ourselves, most people have no clue, they just drive em...

The thing is about the minivan, the concept works, it is the packaging people rebelled against. Somehow people think a crossover or SUV will make people not think you are a family guy as opposed to the Minivan....never mind they are less space efficient, more hard on gas, and usually are less practical for egress an ingress; which for those who have had to take a baby seat in and out will tell you is a HUGE advantage for the minivan...

anthonyvop

7th October 2010, 16:59

Usual BS about Toy being the first foreign car.
MG and Jaguar both raced in the taxi cabs and were quickly banned after the Jags walked a race with one lapping the field several times. Back in the very early days.

Don't forget that not too long ago Chrysler was owned by Mercedes so technically the Dodges were "furrin" cars as well.

harvick#1

7th October 2010, 19:44

who cares, the cars are specs. its really just about engine support. thats why I laugh why people are so mad Toyota are still racing in Nascar, who really cares, welcome all the car brands come and out the rule book again,

ALMS is quickly taking the fans in the states and Nascar still doesnt get it. maybe because you get to do so much at the events for cheap and the racing is fantastic along with the cars looking amazing

Mihai

7th October 2010, 22:17

If VW goes NASCAR (though I doubt it), I bet Red Bull Racing will be their primary team. VW Group and Red Bull have a privileged relationship in motorsports (Red Bull-Skoda in rallying, Red Bull - Audi in DTM, Red Bull - VW in Dakar and there used to be Red Bull - SEAT in WTCC, until the manufacturer officially withdrew last year; many more examples actually).

Jag_Warrior

14th October 2010, 02:49

I could imagine VW getting into NASCAR. Especially if NASCAR can ditch the technophobia.

Though of all the German brands, I would have sooner expected this from BMW.

VW would have been my pick. And I hope they do come in. BMW is extremely image conscious. And I can't see them wanting/allowing even their $40K entry level "ultimate driving machines" ( :rolleyes: - sorry, I'm not a Bimmer fan) to compete against $20K grocery getters from the competition.

Volkswagens (literally "the people's car") are now being slapped together in Tennessee, so it's about as "American" as any of the other makes out there. I know Grand Am is moving to a new spec in 2013 (and VW/Porsche seems excited about that). Is anything special happening with the Sprint Cup specs around the 2013 mark??? Anything new or different about the engines due to hit around that time?

I'm not really a VW fan but I still think it would be cool to have them in NASCAR. Wouldn't it be wild to see Porsche entering F1 and the Daytona 24 (with a turbos! :bounce :) in 2013, VW entering NASCAR and Audi back at Le Mans with a major effort? :up:

Jag_Warrior

14th October 2010, 02:54

VW translates to the peoples car, and having one in NASCAR, the most popular American motorsport, would defiantly put them on the map of what we here define as a major manufacturer. Penskie would be the logical choice for a team to carry the banner. They have a working relationship with Porsche (which I believe is a corporate affiliate of VW) and Rodger is just the man to go outside the box.

Sorry, I didn't see your post. I could have saved myself some time and the site some bandwidth by just saying, "I agree with wbcobrar!" :D

And yeah, Porsche got gobbled up by VW after challenging them to a game of mine is bigger than yours. Porsche lost.

Jonesi

14th October 2010, 05:44

Volkswagens (literally "the people's car") are now being slapped together in Tennessee, so it's about as "American" as any of the other makes out there. I know Grand Am is moving to a new spec in 2013 (and VW/Porsche seems excited about that). Is anything special happening with the Sprint Cup specs around the 2013 mark??? Anything new or different about the engines due to hit around that time?

Just Fuel Injection, (when they should be going to a 4.0L (or smaller) all alloy multi valve V8.)

veeten

15th October 2010, 15:05

*clump*

that's the sound of the other shoe dropping....

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87473

and, yes, in conjunction with NASCAR.

I am evil Homer

15th October 2010, 15:26

DTM and Japanese Super GT on same regs, standalone US series...sounds very interesting.

edv

15th October 2010, 16:10

Mihai

15th October 2010, 17:46

It seems the British Touring Car Championship will go NASCAR-wise in terms of a spec car to be used by virtually any manufacturer willing to enter the series without spending money to develop it own S2000 touring car (currently used in the WTCC and all European national touring car championships, except the DTM).

Their "Car of Tomorrow" is called "Next Generation Touring Car" (http://www.btcc.net/html/generalnews_detail.php?id=2176) and it was successfully tested recently.

Steve-o

15th October 2010, 22:15

Could you imagine a World Touring Car Series with manufacturers from N America, Japan, Europe, Aussies and Korea? All racing under similar specs on the same tracks? This sounds AWEsome!

I do wonder about the idea of partnering w/NASCAR at 6 events, though. Would Touring Cars run on ovals??

How many road courses do the top three NASCAR series' currently run on? Glen, Sonoma, Mexico, Montreal, Road America, and... am I missing one?

Doesn't seem too much of a stretch to add another road course date in one of the other support series, perhaps trucks, where they have shortest schedule. Seems like a good way to get more fannies in the seats by bringing in fans of other touring series and exposing them to the product.

call_me_andrew

16th October 2010, 01:53

Could you imagine a World Touring Car Series with manufacturers from N America, Japan, Europe, Aussies and Korea? All racing under similar specs on the same tracks? This sounds AWEsome!

I do wonder about the idea of partnering w/NASCAR at 6 events, though. Would Touring Cars run on ovals??

SCCA tried it at Charlotte a few years ago. They had to add chicanes to the track.

Main problems:
1. Ovals demand staggered tires wich complicate standing starts.
2. Tires built for road racing might not handle banking and vertical loads.
3. All engines must have dry sump oil systems to compensate for g-loading.

Jonesi

16th October 2010, 08:59

How many road courses do the top three NASCAR series' currently run on? Glen, Sonoma, Mexico, Montreal, Road America, and... am I missing one?

Doesn't seem too much of a stretch to add another road course date in one of the other support series, perhaps trucks, where they have shortest schedule. Seems like a good way to get more fannies in the seats by bringing in fans of other touring series and exposing them to the product.

I think Mexico is gone for good. Almost all the ovals have road course setups but most don't lend themselves to quick changeover during a weekend, esp with all of Nascars haulers. However the flater ovals might be usable: Phoenix, Pocono, Martinsville, Richmond or NHIS.

Mihai

16th October 2010, 12:33

European ovals like Rockingham (England) and Lausitzring (Germany) are easy to be switched in road course layout. Why not an exhibition NASCAR race in Europe, in conjunction with DTM?

Steve-o

16th October 2010, 17:29

I think Mexico is gone for good. Almost all the ovals have road course setups but most don't lend themselves to quick changeover during a weekend, esp with all of Nascars haulers. However the flater ovals might be usable: Phoenix, Pocono, Martinsville, Richmond or NHIS.

I'd love to see Loudon use the existing roadcourse, which runs inside turns 1-2 of the nascar oval before heading up the hill on the back stretch into a banked turn known as 'the bowl'. The problem is when coming off the hill and entering the NASCAR oval, the wall to turn three is at a 90 degree angle to the track, and it's very close to the racing surface. AMA pulled out because the Bahre's wouldn't fix it. Now SMI owns it, maybe they will consider changing that issue. Club cars run there often, and I am not aware of any problems. The bowl is turn six below, and the wall issues are between turns 9 and 10.

http://www.comscc.org/events/track-information/nhms/nhms.gif

call_me_andrew

17th October 2010, 02:07

I think Mexico is gone for good. Almost all the ovals have road course setups but most don't lend themselves to quick changeover during a weekend, esp with all of Nascars haulers. However the flater ovals might be usable: Phoenix, Pocono, Martinsville, Richmond or NHIS.

Forget the haulers, think about the campers you can't charge admission now.

I'd love to see Loudon use the existing roadcourse, which runs inside turns 1-2 of the nascar oval before heading up the hill on the back stretch into a banked turn known as 'the bowl'. The problem is when coming off the hill and entering the NASCAR oval, the wall to turn three is at a 90 degree angle to the track, and it's very close to the racing surface. AMA pulled out because the Bahre's wouldn't fix it. Now SMI owns it, maybe they will consider changing that issue. Club cars run there often, and I am not aware of any problems. The bowl is turn six below, and the wall issues are between turns 9 and 10.

http://www.comscc.org/events/track-information/nhms/nhms.gif

While it would have been better for NASCAR to use some of the road courses' chicanes instead of restrictor plates, that track isn't worthy of anything bigger than club racing.

veeten

17th October 2010, 13:42

California Speedway & Homestead Raceway come to mind, as both are used by NASCAR and Grand Am in their respective series calendars.

and don't forget Daytona.

Lee Roy

18th October 2010, 13:09

How many road courses do the top three NASCAR series' currently run on? Glen, Sonoma, Mexico, Montreal, Road America, and... am I missing one?

Doesn't seem too much of a stretch to add another road course date in one of the other support series, perhaps trucks, where they have shortest schedule. Seems like a good way to get more fannies in the seats by bringing in fans of other touring series and exposing them to the product.

As someone said above, Mexico is no longer visited by NASCAR. The other two tracks that NASCAR visits that I'd throw in the mix would be Daytona and Indianapolis. They could run the DTM race during Speedweeks or on the 4th of July weekend at Daytona, and Indianapolis has a road course that F1 used to race on.

Both are big weekends (although diminishing a bit over the past few years) and the DTM manufacturers would love to have the big crowds to see their cars and file through their displays.

Mr. Mister

19th October 2010, 02:22

I don't think they can use the IMS oval and road course configuration that close together as a lot of work needs to be done to go back and forth. Homestead, Daytona, and Charlotte can all be used with little changes, though, so they could be done on the same weekends.

However, the DTM USA series doesn't really have much to do with VW in NASCAR, who seem to be against the idea, calling it "entertainment" and "short term" just a few days ago:

"We are now at a major deciding point in motor sport history to precisely define where motor sport is going," Baretzky emphasized. "If we go strictly in an entertainment direction like NASCAR and IndyCar are going it is a short term solution and it will not last very long."

I'd love to see it, but I don't think it fits in with VWAG's ideas for the future of racing.

wbcobrar

19th October 2010, 02:49

This may be a question better posed on the touring car side of things, but is this thing open to American manufactures like Lincoln or Cadillac, or do they expect to run BMW's, Vdubs, Audi's, etc only? Sounds like Speed Challenge or Trans-Am or GT from ALMS or Grand-Am. I like the Idea of one spec racing with all the world manufactures willing to show up and race is the holy grail of motorsports, but it always devolves due to politics.

I am evil Homer

19th October 2010, 09:14

If they build a car to the new tech regs then I'd assume it would be open to them, yes. DTM cars are pretty high tech, although they're getting rid of a lot of the exotic materials under the new rules.

Mr. Mister

19th October 2010, 22:18

If Opel return to DTM in 2012, as rumored, it would be easy to campaign the car as a Buick (the Opel Insignia is sold as the Buick Regal in the U.S.).

Obviously, the BMW, Audi, and Mercedes will also be available.

edv

19th October 2010, 22:42

According to Motorsport (http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=391606&FS=F1) news (this site) VW will have a strategy meeting in November. They may decide to go to F1 when the new engine regs are announced, but the report suggests that Hans-Joachim Stuck thinks a foray into NASCAR is more likely.

handfore

27th October 2010, 05:31

The real experts are here, on this thread. Earlier, I landed somewhere unimaginable, glad I found a decent community who really knows about motorsports. I hope to learn from you guys.

handfore

28th October 2010, 04:11

DTM and Japanese Super GT on same regs, standalone US series...sounds very interesting.

Yeah, it sounds interesting. I'm not sure about Japanese Super GT but DTM is slowly gearing up for the future.

handfore

3rd November 2010, 23:17

From jayski:
Volkswagen to NASCAR racing experience (http://www.racingadventure.com/)? Penske? denied: The latest entry into America's most popular motorsports series could very well be the first ever from Germany. According to Matthias Muller, the newly appointed CEO of Porsche, Volkswagen Group -- his employer's parent company -- is considering entering NASCAR. Should it follow through, Volkswagen would be just the second foreign automaker to participate in NASCAR. Toyota was first, entering the competition in 2007. The German automaker will reportedly begin discussions with NASCAR officials once the current season ends in late November. One of the owners that Volkswagen is considering team up with is Roger Penske.
BUT Penske Racing will not be switching from Dodges to Volkswagens in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series next year, nor will the German automaker be fielding cars in America's premier stock-car series in 2011. Beyond that, though, VW could make a play to race stock cars. The operant word there being "could," as the automaker has not petitioned NASCAR to go racing next year. Sources at Penske Racing told SPEED.com that it is the team's "full intent" to continue fielding Dodges next year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series. Furthermore, sources at NASCAR said that while Volkswagen officials intermittently have expressed a casual "interest in NASCAR," the German automaker has not taken any of the steps necessary to be granted approval to race in NASCAR. In order to be approved to compete, VW or any other automaker would have to formally submit its race car and engine package to NASCAR. That has not happened, NASCAR officials told SPEED.com Thursday. And even if VW wanted to race in NASCAR, the earliest a car could be approved would be for the 2012 season.(10-1-2010)

Unlikely to happen, they probably look at 4 or 5 race series and there's only a 50/50 chance they will enter even one of them. Nascar is probably not a good fit for either Porsche, Audi or VW racing cultures.

with this and the petty issues seems like the economy is not taking prisoners

Mark in Oshawa

4th November 2010, 06:57

I would love to see a DTM like series in America, but when the old touring car concept was tried over here by the SCCA Pro Racing people, they bombed. Maybe 14 car fields. Great racing, but not quite what the NASCAR crowd is used to seeing. I see them as supporting the CUP events at Sonoma and the Glen, the NW guys at Road America and Montreal, and maybe running on the road course at Daytona during Speedweeks and maybe the road course at one of Bruton's tracks if there is a way to make room on a Cup weekend.

They could support Grand AM anywhere that Grand AM does stand alone events, or run as part of the Grand AM field as a class.

Personally, I think this whole idea is wishful thinking if the American economy doesn't pick it up...