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StumblePublished Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 | 7:42 a.m.
Updated Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 | 7:54 a.m.
NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Michael Waltrip thinks the temporary ban on testing should be made permanent. “My philosophy on testing is that it’s a colossal waste of time and money,” Waltrip was quoted as saying on scenedaily.com.
Waltrip contends that wind tunnel testing, use of the seven-post rig and other forms of simulation make testing on the track obsolete. “Everything about the (cars’) setup…can be done virtually or through wind tunnel and seven-post testing,” he said.
seven-post rig
On the surface this sounds like a good idea. I don’t know enough about setting up a Sprint Cup car to know if Waltrip is 100 percent correct, but if a majority of a car’s setup is determined by results from a lab, then testing would seem to be overkill.
By saving on expenses for tires, fuel, travel and man-hours, the current testing ban hopefully will accomplish its primary goal of saving each team around $1 million. That may not sound like much given the size of some of these teams’ budgets, but I can guarantee you that any business man who’s involved with racing in this economic climate will jump at the chance to save $1 million.
The problem I have with the current ban is that it only extends to NASCAR-sanctioned tracks. Teams with enough money to test at tracks that aren’t part of the NASCAR circuit can benefit from the information they would gather at these tests. As a result, the gap between the big-money teams and the teams with the tiny piggy banks would get even larger. And, of course, the multi-car teams also have the advantage of the additional technical information that comes from being able to test multiple cars.
Reader poll
If a ban on testing were ever to become a permanent fixture in NASCAR, then the ban should be extended to include all tracks.
No team is forced to do track tests...if Mikey doesn't want to spend his money that way and he is content by spending many millions on wind tunnel, 7-post and numerical simulations, then good for him. Banning track testing accomplishes two things: it keeps drivers from being involved in the process (and becoming better drivers with more track time), and it keeps lower funded teams down (if not out) because without track tests their only choice is to invest in the technological methods. I think the suggestion is completely backwards---why not ban wind tunnels, computer simulations, and computer driven 7 post shakers?
"No team is forced to do tests." That's true, but if some teams test then other teams feel pressure to also test to remain competitive. So in a way they are forced to test.
Of course he would say this - he'll wreck fewer cars.
Mikey says that since they get all the info they need from simulations, the track tests are a waste of time and money. You suggest that teams 'feel pressure to also test to remain competitive'. So which is it? Are track tests as useful as wind tunnel time (I'm guessing Mark Martin would say 'yes') or are they only needed because the other guys are doing it? I think the 'cream of the crop' teams find all forms of testing and simulating, with multi-car data streams to be very valuable in raising their performance. Mikey, as a mid-to-back-of-the-pack team owner can't find the money to compete at their level, but he can still turn a handsome profit week in and week out of he can cut costs. In other words, everyone else shouldn't do it because I can't afford to.
In the article Mikey goes on to suggest that Na$car should pay him to test by having a pre-season race with prize money (no points).
Does anyone REALLY listen to Michael Waltrip, or take anything he says seriously? The guy is an untalented tool.
Extend practice before each race. Teams can save a few bucks and get some testing in.
I'm all for more laps on race weekends! Give the fans some more on-track action...but the 'impound races' were another 'cost-cutting' measure taken by Na$car designed to lower owners' costs (and to force the fans out back to the souvenir trailers to help the bottom line while they wait).
The pre-season thunder events at LVMS and Fontana were great opportunities to get close to the cars for regular fans too. Hope they come back when this 'test moratorium' window dressing ends.
There's a piece on Speedtv.com that observes that the teams are doing just as much track testing as always...just NOT at cup tracks.
http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/dillne...
By the way, 007_fan, James Bond, M, or whoever you are, is there ANYTHING you like about NASCAR?
I think Michael Waltrip should be banned for good.