Winston Cup

October 14, 2001

Ford and Pontiac get a little aero help next week at Talledega. Ford gets a smaller roof strip and Pontiac gets a shorter spoiler.(Or vice-versa, I forgot)

Next year all WC teams must race the motor that they qualify with, or go to the back of the pack.

Kansas Kid · October 16, 2001

Quote from Friz, posted on Oct. 14 2001,4:44

Next year all WC teams must race the motor that they qualify with, or go to the back of the pack.

That will sure be a good one, because it is up to NASCAR's descretion if they driver will have to start at the back or not. Give me a break, if they are going to set this rule up it needs to be consistant (ie. set in writting), which it won't be how they have the rule set up now. Do you know if they will be allowed to practice with a different engine? If so, its not going to save any time at all, because they will all be swapping practice motors in.

I'll be quite honesty with my opinion on this rule, it is not going to help out any of the low budget teams. The teams with the most money, smartest engineers, are still going to have more power, and still be reliable. The teams that can't afford all the R&D will either have less power, same reliablity or same power, less reliability. I may be wrong though...

Jpshostr · October 16, 2001

This engine rule is a crock. The way I heard it was you run the same motor you qualify with, if you change it you start at the back of the pack. Can you say loophole?

I also can't figure out how this is going to cut any costs for any teams. Most likely end up costing most teams more if they choose to abide by the one engine rule as these motors will have to be completely redesigned to add ever more durability into these motors, not to mention the much stronger parts that I'm sure they are going to have to use, which I am sure are a bit more pricey.

October 17, 2001

As far as the engine rule goes, that's what BGN has been doing this year and it has worked out pretty good. If a team blows a motor in practice, they can change it with an inspector's okay. If they do it without approval, they start in the rear of the field.

I think this will help the teams without the resources to have three or four motors to choose from. Qualifying motors are extremely light and expensive. The reliable parts are what everyone is using during the race anyway.

we've all seen teams change a motor before final practice because the other one "was just a little better in rpm range that we use coming out of the turn".

Less work for the crew, less engine testing on qualifying motors. Teams will still work on hp and reliability at home, but I think more teams will benefit from a one-engine rule.