Race Car Stuff

It looks like NASCAR is considering running the Car Of Tomorrow (COT) at the Budweiser Shootout the week before the Daytona 500 in February. This would the be first wheel to wheel racing of the COT. The crewchiefs like the idea of getting some additional experience on a restrictor plate track before the official debut in plate form, at Talladega in the fall of 2007. The fall Talladega race is one of the chase races.

The team owners are not thrilled about the expense of having to bring two of the existing style cars to Daytona for the 500 and two COT cars for the Shootout. The drivers have expressed support for the idea, wanting to get the feel of the new car as soon as possible in a non-point situation.

The problem with this idea is that NASCAR is not sure they can get the inspection procedure worked out in time for the February race. Series officials have also ruled out running the COT in Talladega’s spring race.

But NASCAR official Brett Bodine shrugged off concerns about the timing of the debut.

“Talladega is a no-brainer,'’ he said. “All you do is show up there and run wide-open. Handling isn’t even an issue.'’

Keep watching for the final answer. Don’t be surprised if the decision comes after the first of the year.

I bleed Ford blue. The word Ford is a huge part of my life. I am optimistic about Ford’s future, but they are struggling now. I think the new person in charge, Mark Fields, is sharp and should direct them in the right direction. But with that said, I have found him talking about “product” and “units” as opposed to “cars” and “trucks” more and more in these videos. Let me know what you think.

From WorldCarFans.com:

The last generation GT2 was called “the widowmaker”, and the new one could be called “the noisemaker”.

Testing at Germany’s Nürburgring one can hear the GT2 almost half way around the track, but for the true car fan it is instead music to the ears – so it is better to be called “the sound machine”.

While the 4WD 997 Turbo delivers 480 bhp, the rear wheel drive GT2 will come up with at least 500 bhp.

Weighing some 100 to 150 kg less than the Turbo, the GT2 promises to become the ultimate driving machine.

Spy photos of the Porsche 911 gt2

Life has had me swamped lately. I have had lots of thoughts lately, so the tropical storm passing over today gives me a chance to put some of it down in electronic storage.

Finally going to the track

Next weekend (Sept 9-10) I am finally making it to a track event at Summit Point Raceway with the Mazda Driving Associates. They are having a high performance driving seminar that the fairly new Shenandoah Circuit at the Point. This track is truly a great challenge to drive. It quickly became my favorite racetrack after one weekend last year. In the entire weekend I felt like I got the track “right” on only a few laps, and these were still off the mark somewhat. The track is a true pleasure, and one of the most difficult to master I have ever seen. Hope to see you there.

Bold Moves by Ford

Everyone is aware of Ford’s recent financial struggles, and its attempts to turn the company around. Well when I first heard about Ford Bold Moves web site, I thought it was just another promotional site. But Ford seems to be honestly documenting what they are going through to save to company. They seem to be covering the good and the bad. Yes there is more enthusiasm when things are good, but I have to respect honesty.

What in the world is going on in NASCAR

Is it just me, or does the entire NASCAR community seem to be in a very unusual amount of turmoil? There are the recent events with the “All American Boy” Carl Edwards. The recent upheaval at Ray Evernham Racing. What in the world is happening at Robert Yates Racing.

Carl Edwards has been Jack Roush’s golden boy for some time. He showed unequaled promise early in his career with Roush. It was obvious in interviews with Jack that he was banking much of the future of Roush Racing on Edwards. After the events at Pocono, Roush sounded like a father being disappointed in his teenaged son in their radio conversations. I know that there is respect in both directions. That is why it was so surprising with what happened since then. I just could not picture him going back onto the track and running into Dale Jr. after then end of the track. I do think Junior should have recieved some sort of penalty for his actions during the race and I could have even understood fists in the garage (away from cameras) between the two. But it still did not justify Edwards’ actions.

Well, all the “personal issues” have come to light at Evernham Motorsports. I am not going to side step them, they have had an effect. I think Jeremy Mayfield may have given up the best deal he may ever have. He is a talented driver, and maybe he felt slighted by Evernham. But you could just see in his driving that he was not giving it his all. It takes maximum effort at all times to make a team competitive. I am not saying Mayfield was the only problem, but it was apparent just watching practice and qualifying that he was not giving his best effort.

It is hard for me to comprehend that Robert Yates is really just tired of racing. He is one of the few people around this sport from the old days. He worked with Waddell Wilson assembling engines in the 60’s and 70’s. He put everything he had into a gamble with a rookie driver, a retiring owner and no sponsor commitments to show up at Daytona with a black, white and silver Thunderbird. This was back when rookie drivers hoped to finish races, with little chance of winning. Well they lead that Daytona 500, and Davey Allison won twice that year. Robert’s team has been through more tragedy than most. It is easy to understand how it would be difficult for them keep the enthusiasm. As little as two years ago, Yates cars were among the elite of NASCAR. Something has gone terribly wrong. Drivers are leaving the team, one of the two main sponsors is leaving, and there have been numerous changes in personnel in the shop. Now there are rumors that the team is for sale. Robert, please find your way back. We do want to see your cars on top again.

TOYOTA

To many the car company from the land of the rising sun in NASCAR is a problem. I see Toyota building just as many cars in the US as Ford and GM build overseas. I don’t see the line that lots of people do. From that perspective I welcome and encourage their entry into the sport. What I don’t like is that the racecars are having nothing more than stickers and the name on the valve cover of the engine in common with the street counterparts. I never had a problem with the silhouette cars that at least used stock looking sheet metal. I suppose the Ford Tarus was the first car you could not park next to its street counterpart and see they were the same shape. Now we are into a common template for all the new cars for next year. They are all the same except the side window shape and the stickers. I don’t like it, never have, never will. I understand the impracticality of using production-based cars, or even sticking exactly to the streetcar shape. But give us some difference between them. It is ironic that the only form of major league racing where the cars look different from each other these days is Formula One. The entire world is upside down.

Lastly I am not fond of the fact that the past champions provisional is going to be used, or abused to get more of the Toyota teams on the track. The teams are going to have teething problems. So several of the teams that are going to need track time for development are making very attractive offers to all of the past champions to make sure they get in the race. I like seeing Dale Jarrett, Bill Elliott, Terry Labonte, and Rusty Wallace race, but something is wrong here. But on the other hand I think it will sort itself out. Only the most recent past champion that did not qualify on time gets the single spot. If several of them are in the same boat, only one will make it. Maybe it is fair after all, I can’t decide.

From a Ford Motor Company press release:

FORD SHELBY GT-H AUCTIONED AT EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH SETS FUTURE COLLECTORS PRICE

* Ford Shelby GT-H auctioned at EAAs Gathering of Eagles
fundraiser raises $250,000 to benefit Young Eagles youth
flight program.
* Barrett-Jackson auctioneer Spanky, Carroll Shelby and
Edsel Ford make history at the first auction of a new GT-H.

OSHKOSH, Wis., July 28 - Marking the 40th anniversary of the Shelby GT350H Ford Mustang, Ford Motor Company, Shelby Automobiles and The Hertz Corporation created 500 Shelby GT-H Mustangs. All but one of those cars will be available to rent through the Hertz Fun Collection this year.

That remaining car was sold to the highest bidder for $250,000 during the annual Gathering of Eagles fundraiser at EAA AirVenture 2006. Proceeds from the fundraiser and the auction benefits EAAs aviation education initiatives, including Young Eagles the most successful youth aviation education program ever created with more than 1.2 million young people flown since 1992.

……………

>>-More.

Danica Patrick decided what she is going to do for 2007. She shut up all of the people speculating by announcing that she is going to Andretti Green Racing to race in the Indy Racing League. There are no questions anymore.

I guess that means she is not going to be on Late Night with David Letterman anymore. It also means that free tickets to IRL races in 2007 are going to be difficult to find. Most racers are going to admire Danica for her choice. She was obviously looking for the ride that would give her the best chance possible for winning the Indy 500, or another IRL race. Those are the choices that any open wheel racer would make.

It might prove to be an exciting year next year with a battle between the youngsters at Andreti Green vs the experience at Penske Racing.

According to our friends over at Autoblog the Mazda RX8, which is building a pretty good reputation in the Grand-Am Cup Series and the Grand-Am Rolex Series GT Class, is now going to become a star in a series of graphics novels called Revved. It appears to be promoted by Mazda USA.

According to Slashdot Microsoft will be the sole supplier of Engine Control Units to Formula 1. According to Speed TV this announcement is part of radical cost cutting measures comming to F1 in 2008, along with Bridgestone signing on as a single tire supplier.

At least Formula 1 cars don’t have windows which should eleminate one category of Microsoft jokes, but rest assured that there will be many takes on the definitions of the word “crash”.