David Hyder, the crew chief for Michael Waltrip, has been suspended indefinitely for infractions discovered on the #55 Toyota during Sunday's post-qualifying inspection for the Daytona 500. Further penalties against Waltrip's team will be announced at a press conference later on Wednesday. They are expected to be more severe than the two- and four-race suspensions of crew chiefs from four other teams that were announced on Tuesday. NASCAR chairman Brian France and president Mike Helton were among those that met with Waltrip and officials from Michael Waltrip Racing before Wednesday's first practice session. One official described the situation as "very serious." Lee White, the senior vice president for Toyota Racing Development that is making its Nextel Cup debut at Daytona, said he also planned to meet with Waltrip. "I wouldn't call it a setback, but it's disappointing for anyone that we partner with to have this happen in some form or fashion," he said. "We will talk with them to see where we need to go for the future." White said TRD has been working with NASCAR on the situation. "I can honestly tell you from an ethics standpoint and integrity, along with character and honesty, those things are paramount in our company," he said. "We hold ourselves to a high standard and we hold our teams to high standards. We hope we've picked the right ones."(ESPN.com)Toyota is reportedly very upset about this since it sheds a bad light on them, even though they seem to be innocent victims of the Waltrip's crew's actions. This is a terrible PR blow for Toyota and certainly throws a wet blanket on their entry into the Cup division.
ALSO: Bobby Kennedy, MWR's Director of Competition, was escorted out of the track at Daytona by NASCAR's Robin Pemberton.(2-14-2007)
According to NASCAR, a foreign substance (which they won't identify yet) was found on the intake manifold during the prequalifying inspection, and after the manifold was removed and a new one installed, the car was allowed to qualify. At post qualifying inspection, the substance was found yet again, which indicates it might have been in the fuel system. That's why the whole car was impounded.
Waltrip will be allowed to compete in a back-up car, and the primary car is on its way to the NASCAR R&D Center where will it be reduced into very small parts to make sure there is nothing else in it that doesn't belong. If they ever get the car back, it will probably be in boxes.
ESPN2 has been running a reality-type series on MWR, following the team as it developed prior to the start of the season. It will be interesting to see how they play this on the ESPN show.
My prediction - Waltrip will not make the race. If they had to rely on artificial means to go fast enough to compete, I don't think the back-up car he's frantically preparing will be quick enough for him to finish the duels tomorrow well enough to make the race.
If he does, that car will get an anal exam like no other.
I personally am very disappointed in MWR. I've been a fan of Michael's for years and believe him to be an honorable man and good representative of the sport. If he had anything whatsoever to do with the illegal substance, he needs to come clean and quick. It's the least I would expect of him.
If he didn't know what was going on (and I expect that's the case), he's going to have to do some housecleaning at MWR if he hopes to restore the credibility of the team and save his sponsor relationships. Sponsors don't like being publically embarrassed, and given the money they spend to be in the sport, they can shut down a team if they pull their funding. I guarantee you there are clauses in the contract that would allow them to do just that in the event of a scandal.
Michael's going to have a long year.
UPDATE: Michael responds and he's doing the right thing.
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