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Toyota: CART missed point on pop-offs

Toyota says that CART's three-man panel of judges completely missed the point when it suspended the use of a modified engine 'pop-off' valve for the next three Champ Car races

The 'pop-off' valve limits the boost pressure of the 2.65-litre turbocharged engines used in the FedEx Championship.

Last month, a modified valve was introduced by the governing body of the US-based series after it suspected that engine-makers Ford and Honda had devised ways of over-riding the set limit.

But following a protest and appeal by Honda and its teams, CART's panel of judges ordered a return to the original valve for three races and told CART and the engine manufacturers, including Toyota, to look at alternative ways of preventing boost over-ride.

If no alternative is found, the modified valve will be re-introduced at Mid-Ohio's august 12 race. But Toyota, which was not thought by CART to be circumventing the 'pop-off', believes Monday's judgement has failed to address the major issue of teams by-passing the upper boost limit.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Toyota said it was "extremely disappointed with the ruling of the three-judge appellate panel regarding the implementation of a three-quarter-inch extension to the manifold pressure relief valve [the 'pop-off']. Instead of focusing on the problem that required the implementation of the extended housing, the panel elected to focus on the implementation process."

Jim Aust, vice-president of California-based Toyota Motorsports added: "Toyota and Toyota Racing development (TRD), USA are hopeful that a reasonable resolution to the manifold pressure relief valve issue can be achieved in order to bring the 2001 CART series to a worthwhile and competitive conclusion."

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