[vincesanity82]

The CoT is causing every team to invest in an expensive piece of equipment called a seven-post shaker. It is a machine designed to simulate suspension; a lot of set ups are done in simulation now, and more time is spent trying to develop the bump stops. A bump stop will limit suspension and allow cars to run softer springs without bottoming out, this is precisely the method behind the madness. Teams are now spending double what they did in 2007 on their cars. All four manufacturers have had a win in the CoT. This is neither good nor bad, it shows just what NASCAR set out to do. Level the playing field. Every weekend is a toss up of who will win, as opposed to the previous seasons when certain teams or drivers would periodically dominate the season. Although the drivers who particularly like the CoT are ones who enjoy a lose set up. Which is something to think about, in comparison to Kyle Busch owning the 2008 Cup season. It is no secret that the younger Busch brother enjoys a loser set up compared to a majority of drivers in the field. -- Motorsport.com



Motorsport.com: News channel

[DOF_power]

I can't say I'm surprised.
The no.1 source of spiraling budgets can sometimes or very oftenly be the cost cutting rules/decisions.
Teams refuse to "unlearn" things and play at wishes of the governing body, instead they throw money into overcoming the issues and to gain the advantage.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

The CoT is causing every team to invest in an expensive piece of equipment called a seven-post shaker. It is a machine designed to simulate suspension; a lot of set ups are done in simulation now, and more time is spent trying to develop the bump stops. A bump stop will limit suspension and allow cars to run softer springs without bottoming out, this is precisely the method behind the madness. Teams are now spending double what they did in 2007 on their cars. All four manufacturers have had a win in the CoT. This is neither good nor bad, it shows just what NASCAR set out to do. Level the playing field. Every weekend is a toss up of who will win, as opposed to the previous seasons when certain teams or drivers would periodically dominate the season. Although the drivers who particularly like the CoT are ones who enjoy a lose set up. Which is something to think about, in comparison to Kyle Busch owning the 2008 Cup season. It is no secret that the younger Busch brother enjoys a loser set up compared to a majority of drivers in the field. -- Motorsport.com



Motorsport.com: News channel

Sorry, but I'd have to disagree with that statement. The COT is NOT causing them to buy a 7-post. Most of the major teams were snatching them up in 2006 & 2007 because they provide a dynamic test bed that's not been available before. Every other major racing series in the world is seeing their teams spring for the million dollar machine also. It's just like a wind tunnel, ya either buy one or rent time on one - it's part of the cost of today's high end racing.

This is another media hack making a sensational claim that's not backed up by facts! Just another reason why even those at reliable organizations are viewed with suspicion.

[DOF_power]

That might be true Duck, but wasn't the COT supposed to get rid of aerodynamics and all sorts of other tweaking, bring down costs and level the field ?!

Teams do not seem to obey to this leveling the field wish and are throwing money to find the tiniest of gains and the most and then add them all together in a really expensive racing machine.

[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

That might be true Duck, but wasn't the COT supposed to get rid of aerodynamics and all sorts of other tweaking, bring down costs and level the field ?!

Teams do not seem to obey to this leveling the field wish and are throwing money to find the tiniest of gains and the most and then add them all together in a really expensive racing machine.

I don't know a team owner that would want to have the "field leveled". You always want an "advantage" over other teams. Case in point is during the Daytona speedweeks when Hendrick crew chiefs admitted having "speedway" cars and "short track" cars. That's where we were before the CoT car came along and was supposed to create one car for all races. Rationale was to provide geater safety (of which they certainly have) and to control costs (and put more money in the team owner's pocket).

[DOF_power]

Well I agree 100%.
But this cost control is not something that materialized itself.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

That might be true Duck, but wasn't the COT supposed to get rid of aerodynamics and all sorts of other tweaking, bring down costs and level the field ?!

Teams do not seem to obey to this leveling the field wish and are throwing money to find the tiniest of gains and the most and then add them all together in a really expensive racing machine.

But it's not the fault of the car's that teams do this. It's the teams fault for the added expense. Teams were already buying these machines back in 2006,before the COT came out, so they're not just buying them because of the COT.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by BiscuitMan

Case in point is during the Daytona speedweeks when Hendrick crew chiefs admitted having "speedway" cars and "short track" cars. That's where we were before the CoT car came along and was supposed to create one car for all races. Rationale was to provide geater safety (of which they certainly have) and to control costs (and put more money in the team owner's pocket).

And wasn't it one of the Hendrick teams that ended up using their Martinsville car at Daytona?

[Racer Duck]

The reason any team has multiple cars is 1) backup and 2) not having to completely rebuild the car from race to race.

There are tolerances the teams can legally work within. These items include:

1. shocks (rebound and compression combinations)
2. springs (including spring rubbers)
3. anti-roll bars
4. panhard bars
5. caster
6. caster gain
7. caster stagger
8. camber
9. camber gain
10. camber stagger
11. ackermann
12. steering box ratio
13. rear end gears
14. transmission ratio
15. corner weight ratios

Front and rear steer, which was legal last I knew are interesting in that the chassis is built for one or the other. Each has a specific benefit and each is used on specific track types. So, there you have at least 2 different chassis. Then there are "truck arm" cars and 3-link cars (most super speedway cars are "truck arm", or at least they used to be.) Then there's the panhard bar, or rather how it mounts. Some mount on the right frame others on the left frame (there are benefits for each method, though most circle track racers use the right frame mount method.)

Point is, if ya have the bucks, you can have many chassis combinations in your arsenal. And it's all about having an edge...