Track Smack: Team players (cont'd)

3. Realistically, what are the implications of Joe Gibbs Racing's move to Toyota, and how intense will the fallout be?

Joe Menzer: I'll be honest. I didn't think they were going to do it until just recently here, when it became obvious. But after going up there and hearing their reasoning Thursday it makes some sense. Now they're the top dog at Toyota, instead of being one of four top teams at GM.

Dave Rodman: I think the obvious is obvious: JGR will be competitive out of the box. Whether they elevate the rest of the troops with them depends on whether they wholeheartedly bought into that cooperative scenario.

Moving forward

In announcing its move to Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing identified itself as a team that was ready, is willing, and will be able to carry the manufacturer's banner in the Cup Series.

• Complete story, click here
• Gibbs switching to Toyota
• Caraviello: Tracing its past
• Rodman: Significant swap
• Message Board: Your thoughts
• Video: Watch news conference

Duane Cross: The fallout, initially, won't be pretty. Given time, I think it will be clear that the nameplate doesn't make a hill of beans.

Dave Rodman: Uh, what my e-mail's telling me Joe, is that Toyota has been a thorn in a lot of fans' sides -- and this might make them ex-fans.

Joe Menzer: Plus Toyota is promising them lots of resources, not just for the short term but by all indications for the long term as well. They are trying to position themselves for a lucrative long-term future with this.

Dave Rodman: But at what cost in lost public good will?

Joe Menzer: Like I said, I initially thought the move made no sense, not because I have anything against Toyota as a manufacturer, but just because I couldn't see why a team would make the switch from one that had helped it win three championships.

Dave Rodman: I think it was just a better deal, all the way around.

Joe Menzer: And I wondered if Tony was on board with it.

Dave Rodman: I think all the Toyota teams would have been better even without JGR. I think they were the first front-line team to buy into Toyota's vision, and I think they can win almost immediately.

Duane Cross: The COT will be the common denominator -- the overriding factor will be the Toyota engine program, which has to get up to speed.

Dave Rodman: The fallout, on the other hand, could be extremely profound. People's dismay over Junior's abdication to Hendrick is a pee-drop compared to this -- if my initial e-mail response is any indication.

Joe Menzer: As for all the fans who are upset about the move from GM "to a foreign manufacturer," I liked how J.D. Gibbs handled that question the other day.

Duane Cross: No doubt -- the fans aren't happy with this decision. But time (and wins) heals all.

Joe Menzer: He pointed out that lots of folks in this country are employed by Toyota, that they buy and sell lots of Toyotas and that it has a record as a first-class company. So if you've got a problem with that, he can't help you.

Dave Rodman: But Joe, as much as JGR has bought into it, people do have a problem with it. I'm absolutely not discounting people's passion and belief that this was extremely wrong. But I only got one e-mail that espoused a balanced, sensible depiction of it.

Joe Menzer: Dave, you expect balanced, sensible e-mails from NASCAR.COM nation?

Dave Rodman: I have been graced with quite a few. But this has been a, shall we say, mercurial topic. A lot of the other people said they were done with NASCAR and were throwing away their Tony Stewart stuff. The rest said they were sticking with Chevrolet.

Joe Menzer: I mean, I love our readers and fans. But I wouldn't depict the majority of the e-mails I get as "balanced and sensible." "Irate and irrational" usually fits the bill more!

Duane Cross: Uh -- that's joe.menzer@turner.com

Joe Menzer: Thanks, boss!

Dave Rodman: I have always said that if anyone would abandon the sport due to a name change, schedule change, track redesign, driver change or even manufacturer change -- they weren't much of a fan to begin with.

Joe Menzer: I hope they all prove me wrong!

Dave Rodman: But I had several long-termers tell me this was the last straw. And to skip back to Tony -- I believe him when he said all he wants to do is contend for wins, which in turn means he's contending for titles. Everything else is irrelevant.

Duane Cross: Denny and Kyle are right there with Tony: Just win, baby! (Continued)