USAR Hooters Pro Cup cars have a new tire called the G Force for 2005action. This will be the second year BFGoodrich Tires has supplied therubber for the series.
There will be a unique concept tried out in 2005 on the Formula 1circuit. It will be interesting to see if that idea is going to workinto other forms of the sport.
Imagine a race with no tire changes. You're going to see it this year.
The FIA, motorsport's governing body, has drafted a series of revisedregulations in a bid to cut the running costs and cornering speeds.Competitors will be allowed to make fuel stops, but there cannot be tirechanges. In other words, the tires used to qualify must also run thefull grand prix distance.
Michelin's motorsport director Pierre Dupasquier says the companysupports the concept. "It was our suggestion in the first place that weproposed in 2004," he says. "It saves money because teams go throughfewer sets during a race weekend, and it helps the FIA's campaign toreduce cornering speeds because we will be obliged to use firmer tireconstructions for the sake of durability. The new tire constructionswill reduce speed."
At one point, this idea had been in place. Teams competing in Formula 1between 1977 and 1984 could not change tires. Technology has changeddrastically since that point, so tire designers are starting with aclean sheet of paper. Tire designers will have to do extensive researchto find how temperature fluctuations and track layouts will affect thetires. Drivers may find the cars will be losing grip because hardertires will have that feeling. A compound that is too soft would not gothe required distance.
New tires on Ovals
For the NASCAR Nextel Cup teams, a different tire was offered up for thesecond race of the season and the result was little difference. Goodyearengineers put the cars on a combination of D-6852 (left) and D-6854(right) tires. Teams that tested used the tires, which were initiallytested at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 2004.
The change in the tires was a direct result of a NASCAR rule change.Nextel Cup competitors are getting a one-inch reduction in spoiler(except Daytona and Talladega), which forced Goodyear to look at the newparameters. The change allowed the tires to provide a "grippier" feel onthe right side. California was the first of eight scheduled races thatsaw that particular combination in use.
Branding
The three NASCAR series (Nextel Cup, Busch, and Craftsman Truck)competed on the same tires, but there was a cosmetic difference. Cup andBusch tires carried the "Eagle" designation while the tire was branded"Wrangler" for use on the trucks.
In the short-track ranks, the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series has continuedits association with BFGoodrich Tires. In its first year with theseries, BFGoodrich offered up the Comp T/A radial as the tire of choice.In 2005, BFG has branded the tire to be used as G Force.