NASCAR looking at new car design for 2013

dpkimmel2001

dpkimmel2001

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Very cool.

From FOX Sports

NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series could take on a different look as early as 2013.

While some manufacturers are considering model changes by then, all car makers are looking to maximize brand identity on the racetrack.

That concept is equally appealing to race fans who feel the sanctioning body has veered far from the notion of a “stock” car.

John Darby, Sprint Cup Series director, says the direction would “be real similar” to the style the Nationwide cars are adopting for next season.

“The point we’re at right now is trying to get feedback from all four manufacturers,” Darby said. “The fact that, No. 1, that ’13 is the right year to this as it aligns with new models, and secondly that there’s interest from all four makes.

“We had really positive feedback when we released the new Nationwide cars this year. The fact that undeniably, the Dodge Challenger and the Ford Mustang are really good-looking race cars. We’re not talking about a new race car. We’re talking about body modifications and making model changes that will help the identity and the look of the cars. It’s all from an appearance format, not to change the race car itself.”

As NASCAR has worked over the past decade to make the cars safer and establish uniformity from an aerodynamic standpoint, the bodies are not nearly as sexy as the sleek hot rods fans admired on the racetrack. In March 2007, the Car of Tomorrow debuted at Bristol Motor Speedway. Winner Kyle Busch echoed the sentiment in the stands regarding the car, “They suck.”

However, no one can argue with the safety benefits of the current car, which has been heralded by competitors and fans alike. With the integrity of the cars intact, it’s time to retool the bodies.

“The cycle that we’ve been in -- which started actually back in the ’90s -- of focusing on aerodynamic parity we’ve now been able to take to the next level of what matters and what doesn’t,” Darby said.

“The fact is there’s a lot of design features and sculpturing and things that you can put into cars that aren’t aerodynamically sensitive enough to worry about. That’s where we’re headed now is really allowing the manufacturers to focus on those spots to bring out all the identity they can because that’s the value to the manufacturers.

“As we were going through all our aerodynamic challenges, the manufacturers fell into that stagnant period where all the cars looked the same in the showroom, too. There’s been a trend now to where manufacturers are working really hard on new models that don’t look like everyone else’s. I think that’s evident in what’s starting to enter the showroom today and will be evident over the next few years. We’ll do everything we can to help them with the process.”

Of course costs will be taken into the equation. Changes have to make economic sense to the teams as well, since the modifications would involve more than just a cosmetic tweak to noses and tails. NASCAR eliminated the rear wings earlier this year and implemented a nose job for the front ends for 2011, which replaces the awkward braces that attach the splitters to one sleek piece.

Once the manufacturers agree on the concepts, Darby would expect to see designs submitted in August 2012.

“As it says in the rule book, it all has to start with a July 1 date for any type of a body change on the car,” Darby said. “Typically, and up to this point we’ve entertained and helped manufacturers with the front fascias, the rear tails. The ’13 project could be a little larger than that to where we get more character lines in the hoods, more sculpture if you will to help the manufacturers identify their products a little closer.”
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It's a step in the right direction. In my opinion, the cars should be exact matches (on the outside) to production cars. If NASCAR wants the fans they lost back, then those fans need to identify with the cars on the racetrack.
 
Well, I've been saying this right along in various threads, identity is the root of the problem when comes to the decline of Nascars' popularity.
 
Manufacturers will spend millions in the design and manufacture of new body styles for their brand. Then Na$car will run them thru the wind tunnel and find one brand has a significant advantage. Na$car will then force changes in the interest of "parity". We end up right back where we are now, cookie cutter cars on cookie cutter tracks.
 
SST55 said:
Manufacturers will spend millions in the design and manufacture of new body styles for their brand. Then Na$car will run them thru the wind tunnel and find one brand has a significant advantage. Na$car will then force changes in the interest of "parity". We end up right back where we are now, cookie cutter cars on cookie cutter tracks.
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They made that mistake already and look where it got them! I don't think they will go down that road, instead if there is a brand with a distinct advantage i think they will make concessions, not change it to make it look like a "spec" car.
 
sloggie said:
It's a step in the right direction. In my opinion, the cars should be exact matches (on the outside) to production cars. If NASCAR wants the fans they lost back, then those fans need to identify with the cars on the racetrack.
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The cars haven't looked like exact matches since the late 80's.
 
MRM said:
The cars haven't looked like exact matches since the late 80's.
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Very true, and I don't think they can go back to that concept either. I think they will at least make the cars look "distinguishable" like the 2011 Nationwide cars.
 
MRM said:
The cars haven't looked like exact matches since the late 80's.
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While this statment is true, it's not really relevant what's happened in the past. If Nascar is going to recover, then they have to do whatever it takes to get people to care again.
 
sloggie said:
While this statment is true, it's not really relevant what's happened in the past. If Nascar is going to recover, then they have to do whatever it takes to get people to care again.
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And keeping the cars all the same with equal aerodynamics, etc. is not going to do it.

Making the car recognizable by slapping a decal grill or brand label on it but making the cars all the same box is just one of the reasons fans have bailed.

Nascar is lazy. They don't want to deal with the b****ing from the teams and manufacturers about who has an aero advantage and having to tweak spoilers and sheetmetal. In the past, the arguments amongst the brand loyal fans was one of the things that maintained fan interest and loyalty.

Right now, everyone is just cheering for a box with a brand engine. Hard to get excited about that.
 
Mopardh9 said:
Very true, and I don't think they can go back to that concept either. I think they will at least make the cars look "distinguishable" like the 2011 Nationwide cars.
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That is what they should do.
 
So, what we will have is just basically COT V2.0? Boy! Does that ever excite me!:sarcasm:
 
It doesn't matter to me if the cars are recognizable or not, if the racing isn't good it's still not worth watching. If I could see good hard racing every race, I wouldn't care if the cars were identical or different. I don't watch to see the "car".
 
UPDATE.....

All four automakers & have already submitted drawings of their proposed 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racers to the sanctioning body for preliminary approval. A number of revisions are expected, as NASCAR seeks to balance its desire for brand identity with the need for a common aerodynamic footprint between brands. The changes will be strictly cosmetic, with the current Sprint Cup chassis remaining unaltered. Speaking on the condition on anonymity, one manufacturer representative creditedNationwide Series Director Joe Balash with paving the way for the new, more stock-appearing cars. "NASCAR was not sold on the idea of revamping the look of these (Sprint Cup) cars," he said. "But Joe pushed hard for it in the Nationwide Series, saying it was important to give those cars a distinct, stock-appearing look. The manufacturers were thrilled with the results, and once NASCAR saw the fan reaction that came with the new Nationwide car, they started thinking seriously about similar changes on the Cup side.
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dpkimmel2001 said:
"NASCAR was not sold on the idea of revamping the look of these (Sprint Cup) cars," he said. "But Joe pushed hard for it in the Nationwide Series, saying it was important to give those cars a distinct, stock-appearing look. The manufacturers were thrilled with the results, and once NASCAR saw the fan reaction that came with the new Nationwide car, they started thinking seriously about similar changes on the Cup side.
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Shows you how stupid and arrogant they are.

The fans have been complaining about this since the COT was first shown.
 
Is there another form of racing that the vehicles are stock in appearance other than maybe rally cars? Obviously the Indy cars are barely recognizable , dirt track cars aren't , drag racing cars aren't ,at least at the top levels , I can't tell go carts apart . I wonder if at Daytona , the Fords all ran in the top ten and the Chevys all ran in the bottom thirties if anyone would complain about a body style aero advantage ? Not likely anyone on this forum.
 
ted@economy said:
Is there another form of racing that the vehicles are stock in appearance other than maybe rally cars? Obviously the Indy cars are barely recognizable , dirt track cars aren't , drag racing cars aren't ,at least at the top levels , I can't tell go carts apart . I wonder if at Daytona , the Fords all ran in the top ten and the Chevys all ran in the bottom thirties if anyone would complain about a body style aero advantage ? Not likely anyone on this forum.
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:beerbang:
 
ted@economy said:
Is there another form of racing that the vehicles are stock in appearance other than maybe rally cars?
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American LeMans GT2 class, Autralian Super Cars, a few others... but I get your point. That is what NASCAR was based on though and manufacturers going at it on the track used to be part of the fun of it. If they are going to have all the cars the same then they might as well do what IRL did, let one manufacturer do the whole series and change the name to National Association for Unidentifiable Car Auto Racing.
 
chromehorn said:
American LeMans GT2 class, Autralian Super Cars, a few others... but I get your point. That is what NASCAR was based on though and manufacturers going at it on the track used to be part of the fun of it. If they are going to have all the cars the same then they might as well do what IRL did, let one manufacturer do the whole series and change the name to National Association for Unidentifiable Car Auto Racing.
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How are the TV ratings in that GT2 series? They up or down?
 
Or we can stay how we are and just save everyone money and change it to the National Association of Sexy Car Auto Racing:cool:
 
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