NASCAR 2015 the Start of a Simulated Revolution?
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Issue 12 • Spring 2015 • www.racecar-engineering.com/stockcar NASCAR 2015 The start of a simulated revolution? FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF FA_Ad_210x297_WF_2015_out.indd 1 2/18/15 12:25 PM STOCKCAR ENGINEERING – SPRING 2015 ver since NASCAR introduced its fifth more sensors and data acquisition equipment, Generation Cup car, the so called Car of although I really hope that the teams are never CONTENTS ETomorrow, there have been cries that a given access to that information, as some 4 NEWS revolution would come to stockcar racing. But anachronisms are beautiful. The dashboards of Haas gets ready for Formula 1, plus since then, right through the introduction of the the cars no longer have to be old 1950s style the new look K&N series cars, and Generation 6 cars, the long-awaited opening of gauges encased in the best lightweight housings News Shorts the technological floodgates has not happened. Fibreworks can create, instead teams can now Yet. Sure there have been lots of small changes – adopt a digital dashboard if they choose to do so. 6 TOYOTA AND THE 2015 laser scanning cars to help the panel beaters and Soon enough all teams will have them and the REGULATIONS to catch the cheats, RFID tags to keep track of flagman’s job will become more ceremonial than How the Japanese company chassis, a rather archaic form of fuel injection and anything else as race control beams messages to re-homologated its underperforming an underutilised ECU. the drivers via the digital dashes. Camry ahead of the introduction of CFD is becoming more and more prevalent All of these changes show that NASCAR R&D new rules as you will see in this edition of SCE, but many has adopted a forward thinking attitude towards areas of stockcar racing are still decidedly old- the sport and where it is heading. The same is 10 UNDERSTANDING AERO N fashioned. But it seems as though all that is finally also true of NASCAR’s commercial operation in SPRINT CUP starting to change and it is not the teams that are Daytona, which has been uploading races, in full, NASCAR R&D gives us an exclusive bringing that change, it is NASCAR. to YouTube, something that F1 would never ever look at how it is modelling airflow In 2015 NASCAR is for the first time issuing the consider (possibly one of the reasons behind its around the car in an attempt to spice rule book for Cup electronically, and while this dwindling fan involvement). up the racing may seem like a very small step, and something What will this new broom sweep into the that other regulatory bodies like the FIA have sport? Downsized engines have openly been 16 SIMULATING A LACK OF been doing for years, it is a sign of a gigantic talked about and direct injection must be on SYMMETRY shift in attitudes for the sanctioning body and the radar too. Smaller cars could offer similar How conventional software the wider sport. It has, I suspect, after years of performance on track to what we have now with developed for understanding how resistance finally given in to the inevitable wave more relevance to what is seen in the showroom, cars perform on road courses has of technology – gone now are the 43 white-suited although one hopes that they don’t get too small been adapted to run on ovals officials that once kept an eagle eye looking for – who does not like a muscle car? pit road infractions, replaced by a set of digital The 2015 Daytona 500, or more likely the 22 THE SECRET OF ECR ENGINES video cameras and lasers. It makes you wonder 2015 All Star race in Charlotte, will mark the final How a piece of software inspired by who will intervene the next time Brad Keselowski opening of those technological floodgates and F1 allows one NASCAR engine tuner and Jeff Gordon decide to have a conversation? I say that with great conviction, though perhaps to develop much faster than its rivals The ramifications of the changes are more not great confidence! widespread than a few loose fists though and SAM COLLINS the cars will slowly and surely sprout more and Editor NASCAR R&D has adopted a forward thinking attitude towards the sport and where it is heading STOCKCAR ENGINEERING 12 www.racecar-engineering.com 3 STOCKCAR – NEWS Haas ready for F1 & NASCAR double duty The Haas F1 team is rapidly taking shape with He went onto reveal that ‘Right now we are looking at staff split between Kannapolis, Banbury new facilities in North Carolina and Banbury, aerodynamic development of the buying our haulers and getting the and Italy. Stewart-Haas vice president England. Shortly before Christmas it acquired teams 2016 Grand Prix car is already equipment in place and getting of engineering Matt Borland is heading the Marussia Formula 1 team facility along underway using a 60 per cent scale organised,’ he explained. ‘The final up the technical team and will manage with some of its computer equipment. ‘We took model at the Ferrari wind tunnel in car probably won’t get built until knowledge transfer between the possession of the facility in Banbury a couple of Maranello, Italy. December, and we won’t start final organisations NASCAR and Formula 1 weeks ago,’ Gene Haas told Racecar Engineering ‘Our model is in Ferrari’s wind production until late summer.’ projects, while Günther Steiner, CEO recently. ‘We are reconfiguring that to meet our tunnel. We are working in collaboration Haas F1 will make its race debut in of Fibreworks Composites based in needs at the moment and we have just finished with Dallara and they are making some the 2016 using Ferrari power, and has Mooresville, North Carolina, will act as the place at Kannapolis,’ he continued. parts for the model in Italy,’ Haas said. already taken on around 50 full time the team’s principal. Haas F1 has taken over this former Formula 1 team facility in England NASCAR manufacturers praise selling-power of Gen-6 The motorsport bosses of the three and Toyota as a way of giving the which can be tracked to their NASCAR that fans are relating to the car and manufacturers involved in the racecars product greater relevance Sprint Cup programmes. we’re making it more relevant to what NASCAR Sprint Cup have said the by making them look more like their Jamie Alison, director of Ford they see on the track to what they see change to the Gen-6 car has had a street car cousins. Racing, said: ‘We generate a lot of leads in the showroom and on the street. positive impact on forecourt sales. Now each manufacturer has for our dealers. We have generated We love that, and really that’s one of The Gen-6 formula was introduced reported it is seeing positive signs in 570,000 leads this year, which is up the reasons why we race – we want to in 2013 at the behest of Ford, Chevrolet terms of general interest and sales 60 per cent from a year ago. We track make that connection of relevance.’ sales, match leads generated from David Wilson, president and on-track activation, and our sales are general manager of Toyota Racing up 90 per cent versus a year ago. These Development USA, which has recently are gigantic swings in engagement, launched its new Sprint Cup Camry, as gigantic swings in fan affinity, and it featured elsewhere in this supplement, translates all the way down to intention added that it was important that the to buy. Success on the track translates manufacturers continued to keep directly into fan consideration and the racecars aesthetically in line with purchase intention.’ the street cars. He said: ‘This is about Jim Campbell, US vice president, relevancy. When we undertook the performance vehicles and motorsports project to bring the Gen-6 to the at Chevrolet, agreed. He said: ‘We like racetrack, we all knew that we were that genuine connection from track going to continue to evolve our to the showroom and we see it in the production cars and that with that NASCAR’s manufacturers havew enjoyed increased sales on the back of the Gen-6 cars numbers. The research numbers show comes the need to evolve our racecars.’ 4 www.racecar-engineering.com STOCKCAR ENGINEERING 12 SEEN: New NASCAR K&N Pro Series body BRIEFLY Mike Helton who has been NASCAR since A new body for NASCAR’s top president since 2000, has been named developmental championship, the K&N vice chairman of NASCAR and chief Pro Series, was unveiled at the SEMA Show operating officer Brent Dewar has been named to the NASCAR board of directors. in Las Vegas in November. It’s made from Helton will remain the senior NASCAR a state-of-the-art composite laminate official at all national races overseeing blend and was developed by NASCAR in competition and reporting to Chairman partnership with Five Star Race Car Bodies. Brian France. In its competition NASCAR says its modular design allows department, Chad Little has moved to the new role of managing director teams to easily install and repair damaged of technical inspection and officiating, panels, while it is expected to cut labour while Elton Sawyer has replaced Little costs associated with body maintenance by as managing director of the NASCAR up to 50 per cent. The body is eligible for Camping World Truck Series. Both are competition at the start of the 2015 season former drivers, Sawyer most recently team manager at Action Express the 2014 Rolex and is mandated as the only approved body Daytona 24hr championship winning in the series from 2017.