3KillerBs - 19 May 2008 01:31 PM

People also need to stop ignoring the positives.

Consider the totally unanticipated way that the COT straigtens back out when knocked sideways. No one predicted that one.

Consider the way a COT can slap the wall and keep on running.

Consider the way two cars can move together on the plate tracks. A driver still needs help to win, but its no longer a game of "guess which line is going to work".

Consider the fact that a tiny wrinkle in the fender no longer spells doom.

There are a couple of positives with durability being number one. But the fact remains that this car has aero issues. Hundreds of thousands of engineering hours have gone into trying to make this car turn in the center and become less aero tight. Nothing has worked. They could work on this for 100 years and it wouldn't improve. The laws of physics aren't going to change.

All that NASCAR needs to do is allow for the teams to build some downforce into the noses of the car and allow for more front travel. It is absolutely insane that they aren't doing this. They are ruining the very sport that they are trying to improve. I suspect that it has more to do with ego at this point than anything else.

If these downforce track races continue to suck, NASCAR is going to take a major hit in summer attendance numbers. With high gas prices and a weak economy looming large the last thing NASCAR needs is for fans to start losing interest because the racing is so boring.

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Lee_Montgomery_Wheres_the_competition_with_the_new_car.html

The freight train is really rolling now. If the 600 turns into a stinker, the press is going to have a field day. Especially with races coming up at Pocono and Michigan.

This car has a lot of positives, but the fact remains that the drivers complain about not being able to pass, and that is very evident after watching the All Star event. Those guys are going all out to win, yet all they seem to be able to do is pass a few cars. The last segment with some cars staying out, some getting 2 tires and others getting 4, just verified what so many drivers have been talking about. When in the past does a car with 25 lap tires run away from good handling cars with 4 fresh tires? I was surprised Jr. with 4 fresh tires couldn't run good enough to gain more than 2-3 positions. I know there were other good handling cars that had fresher rubber who were in the same position. Hats off to Kasey and crew, but 25 lap tires no way should he have been able to stay up front. Personally for a non-points no holds barred race for a million bucks, this IMO was too tame for all the hype. Not that I want to see crashes, but some good racing for the lead would've been nice. Nascar really needs to get a handle on the follow the leader racing thats' going on now, like another poster said, with $4.00+ gas, lots of fans aren't gonna want to spend all that cash to watch a 3 hour parade lap.

AMP2003 - 19 May 2008 02:56 PM

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Lee_Montgomery_Wheres_the_competition_with_the_new_car.html

The freight train is really rolling now. If the 600 turns into a stinker, the press is going to have a field day. Especially with races coming up at Pocono and Michigan.

Pocono's one of my favorite tracks, so i hope we see a good race lol

AMP2003 - 19 May 2008 02:56 PM

http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Lee_Montgomery_Wheres_the_competition_with_the_new_car.html

The freight train is really rolling now. If the 600 turns into a stinker, the press is going to have a field day. Especially with races coming up at Pocono and Michigan.

Man,if you think the all-star race was bad,pocono might be worst...the teams need
to have the car working in three different turns,if you don't have the car to do that you
will be off big time.IMO,the flat tracks will be the biggest problem like INDY and Pocono.

I think those of you who think the teams have not had enough time with this car might be 20 or so years behind the rest of us.

The teams have had this car for more than one year and have been developing/testing like crazy. Like I said months ago, with the resources available to the teams, all possible options with this car in its current trim will have been exhausted by the 600.

Pocono's been a snoozer since NASCAR mandated gear ratios

There was nothing done on this car which could not have been retrofitted to the old one.

Nascar did indeed say the COT was supposed to lower the costs to teams. It's absurd that Nascar provides the shocks and springs for each race, and the team's engineers can't make any adjustments. If Nascar's goal was to make Cup racing look just like IROC, they've succeeded. Does anybody else think that front splitter just looks stupid?

papasooner - 19 May 2008 04:33 PM

Nascar did indeed say the COT was supposed to lower the costs to teams. It's absurd that Nascar provides the shocks and springs for each race, and the team's engineers can't make any adjustments. If Nascar's goal was to make Cup racing look just like IROC, they've succeeded. Does anybody else think that front splitter just looks stupid?

I don't really mind it too much. Once the green flag drops I don't really notice the splitter or wing.

But sitting still, the cars are horrendously ugly. They are so ugly and un-racecar looking that it almost seems like NASCAR is pulling a joke just to see how stupid we are.