[bob101]

Lot of talk this week but none about the "big one".

The COT appears to get real squirely on the bumps...but on the flip side I've never seen a car that has that much ability to straighten itself out due to the twin rudders (endplates) on the wing. I call them rudders because that's basically what they are - vertical stabilizers to keep the car straight just like a plane.

So what do you think? Will we see 25+ car wrecks or will we actually avoid the big one?

[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by bob101

So what do you think? Will we see 25+ car wrecks or will we actually avoid the big one?

The "big one" may not involve as many cars as 25+, but I think it'll happen. There's too many variables involved, like a blown tire, flaring tempers and the stupidity it causes, a blown engine laying down fluids, just plain bad luck.

[DOF_power]

Yes a big one is gonna happen.
Rudders ?!
They might act as rudder, but mostly endplates are used to seal air/control airflow to a higher or lower degree on the rear wing.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadet

The "big one" may not involve as many cars as 25+, but I think it'll happen. There's too many variables involved, like a blown tire, flaring tempers and the stupidity it causes, a blown engine laying down fluids, just plain bad luck.

We may not have 25 car pileup, but we'll have a 5 car mini pileups.

[LSC9901]

I see the pile ups the same size as before but I see more cars remaining on the track. Seems like from what I recall from last year that the COT physically stood up better than the twisted trash from before.

[BringBackWilkesboro]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I see the pile ups the same size as before but I see more cars remaining on the track. Seems like from what I recall from last year that the COT physically stood up better than the twisted trash from before.

I agree. We are fortunate to have avoided a big one for the most part, but there is no way the COT has/will stop it. The size of a wreck has nothing to do with the car involved, it's the drivers. As long as they're racing, somebody's gonna wreck, and there is always a chance of 20+ others getting collected. Thats just racing.

One thing I have noticed though, nobody has turned one of these over.

[NASCAR Gnome]

The big concerns I have heard drivers and announcers talk about is being up front when the stuff happens in the back. The largest unknown to this point is how the new car will react in a 40-plus car pack at Daytona with the narrower lanes and all the bumps. Up to now, the largest pack of cars was around 27-28 cars and only on Sunday will we see how this car will react when the pack is much larger.

Will the new car avoid the big one? Not likely... the cars might be new but the drivers aren't!