Shouldn’t the teams keep the cars competitive?
Quote selected text Published April 18th, 2008 in NASCAR News
Give us more front-end downforce for our cars, several of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series drivers have said, and we’ll put on a much better show for the fans. Funny, but I thought a $20 million sponsorship combined with 300-400 employees on the payroll ought to be enough to provide that.
I guess $20 million doesn’t go as far as it used to go.
I guess engineering degrees, seven-post shaker rigs, computer simulation, on-track testing and rolling wind tunnels aren’t enough for teams to figure out the best way to get a car from point A to point B. Or at least a way that’s faster than the other guy’s.
Now that Sprint Cup teams are competing on the 1.5- and 2-mile tracks with the Car of Tomorrow, drivers, crew chiefs and engineers have discovered something amazing. The new car does not drive the same as the old car. Changes that helped the old car often don’t have the same effect with this new piece. It’s harder to drive. It’s harder to pass. It’s a handful.
To listen to some of the comments, you’d think these guys had traded in Cadillacs for Conestoga wagons.
More at Yahoo/Sporting News/Kenny Bruce
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I guess this Kenny Bruce guy knows nothing about aerodynamics and this leaves me wondering how in the world did he get his own column anyhow?
Well, I think I may, may being the key word, see his (Kenny Bruce) point. I think what he’s trying to say, which is how I feel, is that the drivers are complaining a little too much or maybe even whining about the new cars. We all know that they are here to stay. They are complaining that they are hard to drive, well, if that’s the case, give it time, adapt and overcome. Besides, who says that driving in NASCAR’s top series is supposed to be easy? Who says that the same guys that were on top last year should still be on top this year? I think things are fine. Yeah, of course there are some issues, yes, issues, not problems, with the new car, but it’s still a new car, new being the key word there. It will all be worked out in time. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the racing. If your a driver, then I don’t think the relaxing part will work, but you can still sit back in your seat, drive the race car, and enjoy it. Learn how to drive the new car, and you won’t have anymore problems, adapt to it. But please, I’m a little sick of hearing the complaining about the car and all the comments and questions asking NASCAR to change this rule and change that rule, because we all know NASCAR, they aren’t exactly going to roll over and make major changes, they are going to do what they want, they always have and always will. Anyway, that’s my take on it.
I heard that the front spring and shock packages suck. That NASCAR actually decides what’s what and that isn’t fair to the drivers. There’s only so much you can adjust or adapt to with the new cars. There must be something to it because even the lower tier teams have complained.
I agree with how Dustin sees this article, this Kenny Bruce guy is saying what a lot of fans are saying, and that is “Shut up and drive”.
I have said this a long time ago in another thread and I’ll say it again, the COT is a totally different beast, NOTHING from the old car works like they think it should on the COT, When the teams stop complaining and actually take the time to Learn the new car, all the teams, drivers, crews, and fans will love it.
Fisha695 wrote:
More time and more testing!
Yeah I’m all for more testing. In a way I like the restricted testing on Cup tracks because it keeps the Haves and Have nots a bit closer, but I think for 2008 they should have opened testing back up on any track from 1/1/08 to 12/31/08, and then for 09 went back to the restrictive testing policy.