NISSAN PUSHES THE ENVELOPE.

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Detroit. The fact that Nissan is entering the rarefied atmosphere of international prototype racing with a front-wheel-drive machine designed by Ben Bowlby is remarkable. The Nissan GT-R LM NISMO prototype racer (see pics and more details in The Line - WG) is exactly what the sport of motor racing needs.

Different thinking, different approaches and different viewpoints once propelled this sport in its earliest days. The notion of going faster, longer pushed automotive development back in its formative years, resulting in technical breakthroughs that spread throughout the industry, eventually ending up improving the production cars of the day. For a long period of years technical development was not a negative in racing. In fact, pioneers such as Colin Chapman, Jim Hall, Dan Gurney and countless others before and after them fueled the push to the future, and it resulted in some remarkable racing machines and technological developments along the way.

But as we well know, there was a point where technology swallowed the sport whole. Once the 200-mph barrier was broken at Indy, it seemed that the pace of technical development accelerated exponentially, and racing became a game of restrictions and rules packages overnight. The racing machines became too fast for the tracks and in some cases, even too fast for the drivers to control. And every time a new or unexpected technical tweak happened to slip through the rulebook resulting in an on-track advantage, it was quickly squashed. And the creative light in the sport seemed to grow dimmer each time it happened.

And where are we today? We live in a spec car world. Every racing series is a spec series, including F1. Yes, the moneyed teams in F1 can spend extra millions coming up with aero tweaks and such, but showing up on the grid with a totally new vision for a Formula 1 car? It's never going to happen in our lifetime. And IndyCar? There's nothing really new there, or even coming on the horizon. Yes, the new aero body kits are coming, but will they be all that different from one another? I seriously doubt it. The days of innovation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are over, and the same goes for IndyCar racing. It's just a game of cost vs. speed now, with affordability dictating everything.

I have my issues with the FIA and their control of international sports car racing, but it's refreshing that there is a place left in racing that allows for different approaches and different thinking. I have no idea if Nissan's prototype will be competitive, but the fact that it's out there is refreshing, and it will invigorate the sport.

I look forward to seeing it run.


Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD

(Photo courtesy of the Ford Racing Archives)
Daytona International Speedway, 1966. Ford and Goodyear engineers surround the Ford J-car prototype in the pit lane at Daytona during a private test. The J-car was the next development of the Ford GT Mk II and included several innovative features such as aluminum honeycomb chassis construction and a striking aerodynamic shape with a pure "kammback" rear body section. The J-car was difficult and problematic to drive during its extensive development program. In fact, the great Ken Miles was killed driving the J-car prototype at Riverside International Raceway. The Miles accident set the program back as the issues with aero and chassis strength were sorted out. After the crash, Ford and its Detroit-based Kar Kraft subsidiary completely revised the machine and the next generation development of the car became known as the Mk IV, which would win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1967 with Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt at the wheel. In this photo Mario Andretti can be seen leaning into the cockpit (with his "Firestone" driving suit on), talking to Bruce McLaren, who is sitting in the car.

Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD