Nascar:New Ford Engine Ready To Race
Ford will race its all-new,
purpose-built FR9 NASCAR Sprint Cup motor for the first time in
Sunday’s AMP Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. 
Matt Kenseth and David Ragan of Roush Fenway Racing will have FR9s this
weekend, while the rest of the Ford contingent will continue to race
the current-generation motor, which will be gradually phased out next
season.
A few decades ago in NASCAR, the introduction of a new engine might
give one automaker a significant horsepower boost over its rivals. But
these days, the differences between new and old engines aren’t so much
in terms of sheer horsepower as they are in far more subtle measures.
NASCAR tightly regulates myriad critical dimensions in all of the
Sprint Cup engines, to keep horsepower and torque on a level playing
field and to make sure no manufacturer has an advantage over another.
In the case of the FR9, Ford officials are hoping that its improved cooling system will allow the team to use more tape on the nose of their Fusions, which adds front downforce. And, the hope is that the FR9’s lower center of gravity will also improve cornering, which has been the weak point of the Fords this season.[via]
