I think the reason it is coming about is because NASCAR has learned its lesson on the tire leasing program for testing. One of the reasons they went to the tire leasing program was to cut down on testing so teams wouldn't go out and get other brands of tires to use. But it has ended up costing the teams more money, because instead of testing on the tires they race on and use every week, the teams were testing using old tires and other makes of tires from other manufacturers. It really has turned into a fiasco and never really accomplished what NASCAR had intended.

Remember this when we talk about rules that affect the teams. When they start talking about saving money, I don't think there is anyone in NASCAR today that realizes you can't save these teams money. It shouldn't be NASCAR's responsibility. They are not the accountants for these race teams. They should be worried about the cars at the track and what happens to those cars when they are under their control.

When those cars leave the race track, NASCAR shouldn't concern themselves about where teams go, what they do, how much they test, what they spend on technology or how many times they go to the windtunnel. That is not NASCAR's problem. But they make it their problem and I think it has been a big mistake.

[Read the rest of DW's latest column . . . ]