Nascar to Allow use of Carbon Fibre

NASCAR will allow the teams to use carbon fibre hoods and decklids for the new 2013 Sprint Cup car as it tries to give teams more options for creating downforce.

In the past the hoods and decklids have been made of steel but in an attempt to make the cars drive better NASCAR is reducing the weight of the cars by around 160 pounds for next season.

driver and team co-owner Tony Stewart said.

Carbon fibre is definitely a lot lighter so it definitely is going to take the center of gravity and help move it down because of that — that definitely is a positive, for sure.

The result will be more downforce and mechanical grip and teams will have a consistent part so they can create these in advance providing much better quality.

The hoods will have a Kevlar coating to prevent splintering. But the carbon fibre decklids likely will break apart more in a crash.

driver Kevin Harvick said.

It probably is going to bust so you’ll have to stop and put another one (on), which probably isn’t a bad thing, it will be like changing a wing on an F1 car. … In the end, I don’t think it will really matter other than it will cut down the work that you have to do with the decklid to get everything you can aero-wise from it. It’s pretty straight up.

[via: Sporting News]