The Car of Tomorrow is an upcoming car body style for NASCAR's NEXTEL Cup.
Design
On January 12, 2006, NASCAR announced a universal car named "Car of Tomorrow" after a five-year design program. The primary design considerations are "safety innovations, performance and competition, and cost efficiency for teams." [1]
All cars will be required to fit the same set of templates. NASCAR currently has a different set of templates for each manufacturer (Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Toyota). NASCAR has frequently adjusted the rules to ensure that different car manufacturers have relatively equal cars. The universal body of the Car of Tomorrow will eliminate these problems.
The car has reduced dependence on aerodynamics and improved handling. The car will feature a detachable wing, which has not been used since the Dodge Charger Daytona and Plymouth Superbird in the 1970s. [2] The windshield is more upright, which increases drag. The air intake is below the front bumper of the car, which eliminates overheating caused by clogged grills. The front bumper is more box-like, which slows the car down by catching more air.
The Car of Tomorrow has improved safety features over the current car. The driver's seat has been moved four inches to the right, the roll cage has been shifted three inches to the rear, and the car is two inches taller and four inches wider. More "crush-ability" is built into the car on both sides, ensuring even more protection. The car's exhaust runs through the body, and exits on the right side, which diverts heat away from the driver. The fuel cell is stronger, and has a smaller capacity (17.5 gallons, down from 22 gallons).
Testing
The Car of Tomorrow was first tested at the 2.5 mile Daytona International Speedway, then on NASCAR's two shortest tracks, Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533 mi) and Martinsville Speedway (0.526 mi.), the 1.5 mile Lowe's Motor Speedway, and 2.0 mile Michigan International Speedway. Former NASCAR driver, current Nextel Cup pace car driver and Director of Cost Research Brett Bodine has tested the prototype car against cars prepared by current NASCAR teams.
Drivers have tested the COT concurrently with the present car at some NASCAR tests and at special NASCAR-authorised tests. Some teams have tested the cars at the half-mile Greenville-Pickens Speedway and the one mile North Carolina Speedway, both of which are not NEXTEL Cup tracks, and therefore are tests which do not fall under NASCAR's restrictions.
Schedule
The Car of Tomorrow will be first raced at the 2007 spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway, in the season's fifth race. The car will be used at sixteen events in 2007, consisting of all tracks less than a mile and a half in length, the road courses, and the second Talladega Superspeedway race. This includes Phoenix International Raceway, Martinsville Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, Dover International Speedway, New Hampshire International Speedway, Darlington Raceway, and the road races at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International.
In 2008, implementation plans call for the COT to be used at 26 events, including both races at Daytona International Speedway, California Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Michigan International Speedway, the spring Talladega race, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Teams will run the entire 2009 schedule with the Car of Tomorrow, adding both events at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Lowe's Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, plus events at Chicagoland Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Car models
In 2007, Chevrolet will run the Monte Carlo SS in the races using the current body styles, and the Impala SS in the Car of Tomorrow races. Dodge will switch to the Avenger for the Car of Tomorrow races (while still using the Charger for its current body style cars) and Ford will continue to race the Fusion. Toyota will also enter the NEXTEL Cup with its Camry.
References
- ↑ http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/04/04/cot_martinsville/index.html
- ↑ http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_06/articles/000061/006135.htm
- NASCAR.com article, included photographs
- NASCAR.com article on the first test at Daytona
- 2000 article about a UniTemplate car
- Benefits of Car of Tomorrow
- New Chevrolet Car of Tomorrow pictures with Impala SS front end
- NASCAR Drivers Test Cars Of Tomorrow; Guy Rawlings; January 18 2007; Retrieved January 18 2007