Sprint Cup Series to use fuel injection in 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Racecars in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series will use fuel injection systems rather than traditional carburetors starting in 2012, NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton announced Friday at Daytona International Speedway.
To facilitate the integration and development of the new fuel delivery system—touted as greener and more efficient—NASCAR has entered a technology partnership with Freescale Semiconductor and McLaren Electronic Systems, the latter of which will supply the fuel injection units to Cup race teams.
The rollout is planned for the 2012 season, with the expectation that fuel injection will be in place for the season-opening Daytona 500.
Pemberton said the switch will benefit the Cup cars.
“We suspect that the performance will be equal to or greater than what we have today,” Pemberton said. “This gives the engine tuners and engine builders a wider range in which to tune their engines. This will be more efficient, but the horsepower and all of that—it will be virtually seamless.”
How much of a fuel savings results from the transition remains to be seen.
“It will vary depending on the type of track,” said Peter van Manen, managing director of McLaren Electronic Systems. “If you’re on a track which is operating full-throttle all the time, the difference in fuel economy will be less than if you’re on a course with a larger range of engine speeds.”
Jamie Allison, Ford’s director of North American Motorsports, applauded the change as a move toward more brand identity.
“We fully support the move to fuel injection in NASCAR,” Allison said. “It’s been a topic of discussion by the manufacturers and NASCAR for a number of years, and we’re pleased to see it progressing forward.
“Our Ford fans want to see more brand identity and relevant technologies in the cars we race in NASCAR; so we think it’s very important that both the cars and the technology in NASCAR are more closely related to production cars. The move to fuel injection is another important step in that process.”
Doug Yates, chief engine builder for Roush Yates Engines, welcomed the challenge.
“It’s a big change for our sport, and it’s an exciting time to be an engine guy,” Yates said. “We’ve had these carburetors for many years, so the move to fuel injection is really something we welcome.
“We think that fuel injection can help us tune each cylinder more precisely and probably clean up some emissions off-throttle, which is good and healthy for the sport. When you also consider the change NASCAR made this year with E15 fuel, the sport is definitely heading in the right direction and doing some really good things.”
By Reid Spencer

Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
(February 11, 2011)