January 25, 2003

Cars of the Winston Cup series are crying out for advancement in the way in which NASCAR the sanctioning body delegate’s air flow across current sleek designs.

Now we see Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company being utilized in a mitigating manner trying to solve the aero push concern whereas even the newest of body types will be hampered by a tight condition in 2003. Look for more follow the leader racing this season folks.

Australian V8 Super Car Image - Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge

Softer tire compounds are a dream come true but appear as a band aid in regard to how NASCAR stalled in their technology and approach to aero push. The dreaded push syndrome is seen wherever aerodynamics have met with rule restriction. The sanctioning body tries to bridle aero technology with third world technique such as the current rear spoiler we see today. I think Detroit engineering has over produced as compared to the response from NASCAR.

Have a look at what Ford Motor Company has going in the Australian V8 Super Car series. You will see testing of aerodynamics as well as engine technology for the future. That type of car utilizes a rear wing that actually serves a better purpose as compared to the outdated approach to a rear wing in the Winston Cup series.

Current Cup body styles cheat the air in their bullet shaped designs. The idea of control and handling response may be tied to how NASCAR approaches that huge gulp of air being jammed down on the rear of these cars. Envision a wing system setting higher than the current wind dam that we see today. The proposed wing catches clean air from perhaps two wings in more of boxed shaped wing system mounted on the rear deck lid.

No. 42 Winston Cup Car Image - Ganassi Racing

Equaling weight as per what NASCAR is doing with the new weight distribution rule is fine. It works for Goodyear to be able to justify softer tire compounds by leveling forces applied . The engineers hope to make you think they have solved the aero push problem. The idea as always with softer compounds is to give the car an aggressive nature which in turn fights its handling characteristics thus we have solved the problem. It’s a temporary aid to a problem that goes much deeper. I think the compound change is a mitigating attempt but does little to answer the complete concern.

Perhaps the engineers were onto something in the late sixties whereas given a chance to flourish could have completely made the words “aero push” a term that has no meaning in Winston Cup. The choice to abandon the wing cars cost a lot of money as Chrysler and even Ford had to scrap several forecasted years of technology advancement in the sport with lots of numbers on chalk boards being erased. You just have to wonder if the cars of today would handle better if a different path was taken back then.

Could the wing from 69-70 have evolved to a better control of weight distribution as compared to the aerodynamic path we are currently going down in the Winston Cup series?

NASCAR went to great lengths in an effort to have control of the sport where aerodynamics is concerned. An adjusted response is needed now from the sanctioning body that considers a match to Detroit’s current aero engineering. Trying to match aero numbers from the space shuttle with parts and pieces from Apollo 13 is where NASCAR finds itself.

Wing or no wing? Let me know.

You can contact Joe at: Insider Racing News

You Can Read Other Articles By Joe