2019 sezona nova pravila
Poslato: sreda, 3. okt. 2018. u 15:37h
First look: NASCAR's 2019 Cup Series formula intends to create tighter racing
It's not inherently pack racing, but NASCAR wants it to be awfully close
In the pursuit of closer racing and reversing an apparent decline of interest, NASCAR is set to completely change the racing product at the highest level of stock car racing next season.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will feature different horsepower targets, achieved through a tapered spacer, for different track types next season. Additionally, the cars will utilize bodies that feature larger spoilers, splitters and aero ducts, intended to increase downforce and achieve something that draws the cars closer together.
The baseline for this package comes from the All-Star Race held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which created pack racing around the polarizing 1.5-mile intermediate track.
Most of these downforce ovals, defined as 1.2 miles or greater, will see a reduction of horsepower from 750 to 550 for the 2019 season. The tapered spacer, reduced-horsepower engines and high-downforce bodies will be in place for 17 of the 36 races next season, except the Daytona 500, which will be the only race contested with a traditional restrictor plate.
The other three races at Daytona and Talladega will also utilize tapered spacers.
Five other races will be run with the smaller tapered spacer but with no aero ducts -- both races at Pocono, Atlanta, Darlington and Homestead.
Here is the short version of the rules package delivered to teams on Monday:
Aero Elements
Spoiler: 8” x 61”
Splitter: 2” overhang, 10.5” wings at ends of splitter
Radiator pan: 37” in front tapered to 31” with vertical fences
Aero ducts: Used at majority of oval tracks larger than 1 mile
Engine Elements
750 hp: 1.17” tapered spacer (Used at short tracks and road courses)
550 hp: 0.922” tapered spacer (Used at oval tracks larger than 1 mile)
Misc.
Enhanced vehicle chassis mandatory at all tracks.
Adding three long block engine seals in points races. These are in addition to the 13 short block seals introduced this season.
25 percent reduction in testing (three organizational tests, down from four; three teams at each Goodyear test, down from four)
The changes come after a four-year policy of NASCAR targeting a reduction of downforce to increase a stated desire to see the drivers themselves mean more. Now, it seems as if NASCAR is targeting something that more closely resembles the product seen at Daytona and Talladega, even if the league’s vice president of competition, Steve O’Donnell doesn’t view it that way.
"Let me dispel the myth that NASCAR is interested in pack racing everywhere ... that's not at all where we're trying to get to," he said.
Additionally, NASCAR has targeted the 550-hp range because that is what manufacturers have told them they need to be at in order to be showroom relevant to keep their future participation.
"I think if you look at our current partners, it’s important to speak with them first and I think they’re very happy with where we are in the sport, but we always want to grow," O’Donnell said. "And when we talk about growth, that means being more relevant, potentially introducing more technology into the sport, especially around the engine. As we’ve had discussions with new OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), the direction we’re going in for next year’s rules package really opens up a variety of options for us to bring in new OEMs, to have our current OEMs potentially accept a new direction.
"So, a lot of thought went into this that this isn’t just a 2019 rules package, it’s something that we believe really sets us up for the future -- not only for our current partners, but growing the sport, which hopefully leads to more healthy ownership as well where we can bring some new OEMs in."
Talk of this direction has proven to be polarizing in both the garage and on social media, with many believing this package diminishes driver talent and increases the focus on engineering.
The response is that pack racing requires a different kind of talent and that whatever kind of racing this produces, it will feature its own skill set, too. O’Donnell says drivers will now have more options to make passes with cars closer together.
"The best drivers and the best teams are still going to win the races," he said. "Do we think the guys will be closer together? We do."
https://autoweek.com/article/nascar/fir ... ter-racing
It's not inherently pack racing, but NASCAR wants it to be awfully close
In the pursuit of closer racing and reversing an apparent decline of interest, NASCAR is set to completely change the racing product at the highest level of stock car racing next season.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will feature different horsepower targets, achieved through a tapered spacer, for different track types next season. Additionally, the cars will utilize bodies that feature larger spoilers, splitters and aero ducts, intended to increase downforce and achieve something that draws the cars closer together.
The baseline for this package comes from the All-Star Race held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which created pack racing around the polarizing 1.5-mile intermediate track.
Most of these downforce ovals, defined as 1.2 miles or greater, will see a reduction of horsepower from 750 to 550 for the 2019 season. The tapered spacer, reduced-horsepower engines and high-downforce bodies will be in place for 17 of the 36 races next season, except the Daytona 500, which will be the only race contested with a traditional restrictor plate.
The other three races at Daytona and Talladega will also utilize tapered spacers.
Five other races will be run with the smaller tapered spacer but with no aero ducts -- both races at Pocono, Atlanta, Darlington and Homestead.
Here is the short version of the rules package delivered to teams on Monday:
Aero Elements
Spoiler: 8” x 61”
Splitter: 2” overhang, 10.5” wings at ends of splitter
Radiator pan: 37” in front tapered to 31” with vertical fences
Aero ducts: Used at majority of oval tracks larger than 1 mile
Engine Elements
750 hp: 1.17” tapered spacer (Used at short tracks and road courses)
550 hp: 0.922” tapered spacer (Used at oval tracks larger than 1 mile)
Misc.
Enhanced vehicle chassis mandatory at all tracks.
Adding three long block engine seals in points races. These are in addition to the 13 short block seals introduced this season.
25 percent reduction in testing (three organizational tests, down from four; three teams at each Goodyear test, down from four)
The changes come after a four-year policy of NASCAR targeting a reduction of downforce to increase a stated desire to see the drivers themselves mean more. Now, it seems as if NASCAR is targeting something that more closely resembles the product seen at Daytona and Talladega, even if the league’s vice president of competition, Steve O’Donnell doesn’t view it that way.
"Let me dispel the myth that NASCAR is interested in pack racing everywhere ... that's not at all where we're trying to get to," he said.
Additionally, NASCAR has targeted the 550-hp range because that is what manufacturers have told them they need to be at in order to be showroom relevant to keep their future participation.
"I think if you look at our current partners, it’s important to speak with them first and I think they’re very happy with where we are in the sport, but we always want to grow," O’Donnell said. "And when we talk about growth, that means being more relevant, potentially introducing more technology into the sport, especially around the engine. As we’ve had discussions with new OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), the direction we’re going in for next year’s rules package really opens up a variety of options for us to bring in new OEMs, to have our current OEMs potentially accept a new direction.
"So, a lot of thought went into this that this isn’t just a 2019 rules package, it’s something that we believe really sets us up for the future -- not only for our current partners, but growing the sport, which hopefully leads to more healthy ownership as well where we can bring some new OEMs in."
Talk of this direction has proven to be polarizing in both the garage and on social media, with many believing this package diminishes driver talent and increases the focus on engineering.
The response is that pack racing requires a different kind of talent and that whatever kind of racing this produces, it will feature its own skill set, too. O’Donnell says drivers will now have more options to make passes with cars closer together.
"The best drivers and the best teams are still going to win the races," he said. "Do we think the guys will be closer together? We do."
https://autoweek.com/article/nascar/fir ... ter-racing