Cars of the Future will Benefit from Virtual Race Tracks

With a strong history of drivers and mechanics tinkering under the hood of their hot rods, racing has always been about finding ways to go a little faster than the next guy. As NASCAR 2000 looks into the future, more and more effort is going into finding that edge.

As production cars evolve, technology will continue to be available. How teams use it and how NASCAR regulates it will be the big questions.

"NASCAR wants to keep a level playing field, so the challenge for us is to be as creative as we can under the rules," said Greg Specht, Ford's Manager of Racing Operations for North America. "Don't let anyone fool you. There is a lot of science and engineering going on in NASCAR.

"But part of what NASCAR provides is entertainment, and I don't see them changing drastically from what has been successful," Specht continued. "They probably will get faster in small, manageable increments, and as production cars evolve, I think we will see improvements in aerodynamics and technology."

NASCAR Winston Cup driver Brett Bodine and two-time NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division champion Randy LaJoie agree.

"I think NASCAR will bring technology in slowly to keep it competitive," Bodine said. "The cars should continue to reflect what the manufacturers put out on the road, but we want to keep the racing close."

How competitive is NASCAR racing? Sixty-nine different drivers scored points during the 1999 Winston Cup season, 32 of them competing in all 34 races.

Said LaJoie: "One thing NASCAR has done a good job of is keeping it simple. You still have to jack up the car. You still have to change the tires. You still have to put in the gas. All of that is part of the sport."

So, where can new technology find a home within stock car racing?

Specht thinks a lot of NASCAR advances will come off the track in the form of virtual testing.

"Since teams have limited test dates, limited time and limited resources, I think you will see a shift towards more lab testing and improvements in analytical tools," Specht said. "Design simulation also offers big advantages. If we can simulate car designs without building and testing prototypes, it will be much faster and less expensive for teams."

The ultimate advancement, according to Specht, will be improvements on virtual race tracks. Imagine a race team able to run a complete race on any given track without ever starting the engine, making adjustments to everything from seat settings to atmospheric conditions along the way. Teams could make decisions on the computer, change settings and run the race all over again. Without ever unloading the car from the transporter, cars will be better prepared for race day.

"They were able to fly the first 777 airplane with the help of simulation," Specht said. "I see more and more of that technology moving into motor sports."

Ford has 40-50 engineers working full time on the North American race program, with the ability to "borrow" specialists from other departments as necessary.

"Our commitment to racing is very strong," Specht said. "We benefit tremendously from the two-way technology transfer -- information moving between the production cars and race cars."

Even with improvements in science and technology, the secret of NASCAR's success will remain with its people.

"The ingenuity and creativity in this sport continue to amaze me," Specht said. "Somehow, someway, someone always figures out a way to go faster and if teams aren't working in that direction every single week, they get left behind."