Knowing the chemical properties...
Knowing the chemical properties of racing tires helps us learn how to better use them. We can prolong the life of a tire by wrapping and storing the tires to prevent the loss by evaporation of certain helpful chemicals. We can now replace some of those chemicals through a money-saving process affectionately known as soaking.
Conclusion
By now, you should have come to the conclusion that what we do and how we do it, not to mention the level of success we've demonstrated over the years in our discoveries, makes us by deed and definition scientists. We, as a group, have done as much good with fewer resources as any other research group. The reason we have been so successful is because racers are not bound by any restrictions or self-imposed guidelines that would limit our search for a better product or methodology. That is a very important point, because nearly all organized research organizations born out of higher education are indeed stifled as to how they can proceed in their research. Racers know no such boundaries.
Competition is the catalyst that breeds success. We are all driven by an intense desire to improve our product, and the sheer number of researchers in racing means this whole endeavor involving the science of racing moves at a quick pace and delivers results that formal scientists would find impressive. The process is ongoing and will continue on its present course unless the sanctioning bodies enact strict rules limiting the amount of imagination that we can use.
To find the most successful scientists on earth, we need only look at the everyday racer and realize it is he or she who really performs, degree or not. The many other dedicated scientists in our society would do well to study the work habits and accomplishments of the men and women who race cars.