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Michigan, Race 14


Common templates, Power Team pulls out, a new dodge team, and the Kmart 400 from Michigan Speedway.





Common Templates....... NASCAR -vs- Automakers

NASCAR has always had a policy in its modern era to search for equality between the Chevrolet, Ford, and Pontiac racecars. They have been goaded by team owners and drivers to make changes that will give a particular model equal footing. Hundreds of wind tunnel tests have been done to try and achieve aero equality.

In order to insure aero equality, or aero matching, NASCAR has decided to use a common template to make all of the body styles the same. One template to fit all models. Of the three templates available, they seem to be leaning towards using the Ford Taurus template for their standard. The new template system is set to go into effect for the 2001 season, which will also include the new Dodge Intrepid racecar. Some sources claim that it may even go into effect late this fall.

The new Dodge Intrepid is already using the Ford Taurus template for its development. NASCAR has sent the same template to a Chevrolet and a Pontiac Winston Cup team, but the teams haven't started building the cars. It appears the teams are waiting for the nod from their respective manufacturers, and that may be a long time coming.

The automakers aren't happy with the direction NASCAR is taking. They market automobiles that are related to their racing counterpart. If all racecars were built the same, it would be counter-productive to the automakers involvement in racing. It has been rumored that one major automaker may pull out of NASCAR racing if this common template system becomes a reality.

Winston Cup Director Gary Nelson claims they have been considering this for several months. He claims they have talked to the teams, and to the automakers, and that they're getting close. That's not the word that the automakers are putting out. As far as the teams are concerned, there's mixed reaction, as usual. Some teams like the idea, others are livid about it.

It appears to me that the future of Winston Cup racing is going in the direction of IROC, and the open wheel venues, with all of the cars being practically the same, except for the drivers, and engines in the open wheel racecars. Maybe that's NASCAR's next big move, equalize the engines? Now that's really doubtful. But, five years ago, the thought of common templates in Cup racing would probably have seemed "really doubtful" as well. Actually, they do equalize the engines at Talledega and Daytona. The next thing we'll be seeing is restrictor plates at Michigan...........
The copyright of the article Michigan, Race 14 in NASCAR is owned by Thomas M. Sampson. Permission to republish Michigan, Race 14 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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