New one-engine rule will change team strategy

[Elwood]

New one-engine rule will change team strategy

By MIKE HARRIS

AP Motorsports Writer

January 15, 2002

 

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Although NASCAR's new one-engine rule won't take effect until after the season-opening Daytona 500, the Winston Cup engine builders are making sure they have some fail-safe motors ready.

 

The new rule, effective in Rockingham, N.C., the week of Feb. 24, eliminates practice and qualifying engines and requires the teams to use the same engine from the start of practice through the race.

 

``The plusses are that we're not going to have to take as many engines to the racetrack and you'll get more out of the guys,'' said Tom Ghent, head of the engine department for Roush Racing. ``Instead of having to thrash when the engines come back for rebuilding, you'll be able to pace yourself better.

 

``On the other hand, one thing we'll have to expect in running one engine for the entire weekend is the unexpected. We'll have some small failures, I'm sure. When you have 5,000 valves, you're going to have at least one failure. If that happens at the racetrack, that's a problem.''

 

Another drawback to the new rule, Ghent said, is that the teams will no longer be as likely to test the durability of new parts and pieces during practice and qualifying.

 

``That would be a pretty big risk under the circumstances,'' he said.

 

Randy Dorton, chief engine builder for Hendrick Racing, said one possible problem of the one-engine rule is what he called ``thermal cycles,'' meaning the repeated heating and cooling of the engines as they run through practice, qualifying and the race.

 

``When you tape up the cars for qualifying, it heats them up pretty good,'' Dorton said. ``Normally, we would just put in the race engine after that. Now we'll have to see how the engines react.''

 

Ghent and Dorton took part in a question-and-answer session on engines Tuesday during the annual UAW-GM Motorsports Media Tour, organized by Lowe's Motor Speedway.

 

Although both of the engine builders said all the teams are working on making their motors more durable, a part failure after the car is qualified could prove costly.

 

``NASCAR is going to handle that just like a wrecked car,'' Dorton said. ``If you have a failure after the car is qualified, the car will have to start at the rear of the field.''<

[Guest Friz]

I foresee a little less hp for durability's sake. IMO this will help even out the field. Mid and rear of the pack teams are already sacrificing some hp for durability due to cost. It should bring some cars to the front that previously weren't there.

[General Lee 01]

I forsee alot of engine attrition @ Rockingham.

[Kansas Kid]

Unfourtunately I see the opposite of what Friz predicted.  I think the bigger teams are going to find out more quickly how much they can push these motors, and will be running around with more power then the lesser funded teams that haven't had the opportunity to test as much.  Just IMO though....

[Shaners]

That is a great rule, and one we've been talking about at work for years.  That will eliminate all those light weight $100,000  engines that have their crankcases filled with WD-40 just so they can qualify in the top 10...