OK, so the hoopla has died down since Indy, but the fundamental problem is still there. I don't understand NASCAR (I'm sure there are many of us who don't). They redesigned the car trying to remove the dependency on aero. The new car is heavier with a higher center of gravity. However the tires are fundamentally the same. Sure they play with the compound and probably the sidewall, but it is still the same old tire. What I don't understand is why didn't they take the time to redesign the wheel and tire combination when they were developing the COT? Its like trading in the family 2-door for a new SUV but telling the dealer that you want the tires and wheels form your old car. It just doesn't work.

Formula 1 figured it out. Next year the size of the wings will be greatly reduced and all of the little winglets and veins will be gone. In their attempt to increase overtaking they knew that the balance between mechanical grip and aero down force must be shifted. They have spent the last two years developing a new slick tire. It will be about the same size but the contact patch will be about 2/3 greater.

NASCAR spent years developing the COT, but forgot to start at ground level, and we can see the results. It kind of reminds me of a wine rack I built for a girlfriend a long time ago. Of  course I created my own plans, and somewhere along the way a small miscalaulation was made as to the spacing of the rails that held the bottles. I at least did a dry fit with an actual bottle. Ha! The *** thing was full inch too wide to even think about holding the bottle.  I had a choice buy bigger wine bottles or fix the rack. I fixed the rack.

Although the COT may have some design flaws, they don't need to stick with the same old tire and wheel.