Friday, January 8, 2010

NASCAR might ground the Car of Tomorrow's wing

Ah, Talladega. Check that photo above. Dale Junior out in front, Ryan Newman having a little trouble with the wall, and holy crap Carl Edwards is upside down ten feet off the ground! Why didn't anybody tell me that could happen?

NASCAR is doing the previously unthinkable -- revisiting the Car of Tomorrow -- and specifically focusing on the rear wing. Now, despite the wing's name and the rather deceptive photo above there, NASCAR isn't looking at the wing because of the CoT's tendency to take flight at Talladega. Rather, NASCAR is looking at the rear wing because of repeated driver complaints about handling, competition and even appearance. (Scott Speed was complaining that the wing clashed with his firesuit.)

Prior to the Car of Tomorrow's introduction, Sprint Cup cars hadn't had a detached wing since the mid-1970s. And if NASCAR testing is any indication, the wing's days could be numbered.

"We are currently meeting with drivers and owners to discuss a number of options," NASCAR director of communications Ramsey Poston wrote in an e-mail. "Going back to the spoiler is one of them under serious consideration. We'll make an announcement in the coming weeks."

Now, you probably don't need a calendar to figure that "the coming weeks" will take us into the regular season. So, yes, this means that NASCAR may well be making another change in the middle of the regular season. But if it means better competition on the track -- and a chance for certain drivers (cough88cough) to stop griping about the CoT -- I'm all for it. You?

NASCAR exploring idea of returning to rear spoiler [NASCAR.com]

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