2007-05-09 03:40:46 · 20 answers · asked by Hillary is a Tool 2 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
Well I'm guessing that if one of us knew that the other teams would know as well. Rick Hendrick has never been afraid to spend money on research and development to put the best equipment on the track. He has over 560 employees (60 some with doctorates) working full time to field 4 quality teams (well 3 anyway). From Ray Evernham to Chad Knaus HMS has always had innovators for crew chiefs that are willing to look at problems from different angles. The amazing thing is that Jeff, Jimmie and Kyle all like different handling cars yet they all seem to be some of the fastest ones out there. I figured that they would be one of the first teams to excel in the COT races and it will probably result in the 24 or 48 cars winning the Nextel Cup this year. Gibbs and RCR have also looked good and there really isn't as big of a gap as one would think from looking at the results but HMS definitely is leading the charge right now.
2007-05-09 04:41:54 · answer #1 · answered by Tregosteevo 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
When the other teams were complaining about the COT, Hendrick devoted an entire R&D team to it. Figuring out how to make it work. All the constant changing kept some teams away from spending the resources. Hendrick had the finances and once again the wisdom to stick with it. They put a lot of time, money and testing into the COT and it shows as they have won all the COT races so far.
Other teams will eventually catch up but their data will always be behind what the Hendick teams have.
Everyone was laughing at Hendrick for spending so much money and time into an uncertain/ unkown quotent. They were often told it was all a waste. Now the Hendrick teams are laughing when it counts ( while they count the winnings).
2007-05-12 15:30:07 · answer #2 · answered by carmickle64 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best equipment steered by the best drivers and aided by elite all-around top teams. Those are the primary reasons Hendrick Motorsports is a threat to capture the pole and a race victory every weekend. But make no mistake, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are as important as any of the other factors (i.e. Rick Hendrick's leadership and money, the cars and the personnel). Gordon and Johnson join Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth as the series' best drivers. Although other drivers would be successful driving for Hendrick, I don't think they'd be winning as much as the Nos. 24 and 48 currently do. I mean, Casey Mears is a pretty good driver, and he's struggling in his first year with Hendrick. The driver obviously makes a difference
2007-05-11 01:07:28 · answer #3 · answered by Shawn G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have the resources to do the research and development for the COT. I think there is a lot of factors involved, as the Hendricks team work together to help each other. Even Jeff had his crew work on Jimmie's car when he almost didn't even make it a couple of weeks ago and won the race....which I think he stole away from Jeff for not letting him by. In any case, it takes the right people, the right funding, and the right time for everything to come together and the Hendricks organization is going for Cup again .... Jeff Gordon is the one this year! It is also the drivers communicating with the team stating what could be better with the car etc. and they have that.
Good question.
2007-05-09 06:25:27 · answer #4 · answered by snowieowl_98 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main prob with the COT is getting it to turn in the corners and Hendricks definately has that figured out. It has to be in the camber and shock settings that they are getting it to turn so good along with the weight distribution. I don't understand why the other teams are so far behind, but they will catch up soon.
2007-05-09 08:10:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hendricks and Gibbs have just done the best homework and are making the cars work the best. Hendrick's drivers and crews have done better at finishing off the races and getting the ways, but both organizations have really outdone all the other teams with being ready for the C.O.T.
Incidentally Jeff Gordon says the car fits his style better and that's partly what he attributes his success too. Its a driver's car, in that you can't overdrive it and get away with it. It takes some more finess which he is the smoothest guy out there so it should work for him.
2007-05-09 05:05:03 · answer #6 · answered by jefflawdog 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think that the Hendrick cars have figured it out, but the GIbbs cars I think also have it figured out mainly because they have led a lot of laps in the COT.
2007-05-09 10:22:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How to drive it and beat everyone else in it and test it and use their teammates notes and just experiment with things. You build teams around the drivesr not the crew and thne make the driver fit in you get the driver then build the crew and team around that and thats what Rick Hendrick himself said about his team and organization. He built Jeff's team around Jeff and people he likes to work wiht and people he knows and who know him well and people who can get the job done. Not the other way around. I think they have spent more tmie and energy on the car in order to be the best and they are the best.
2007-05-09 10:32:58 · answer #8 · answered by coolliz2444 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hendrick has a huge organization and is never afraid to spend money to find an advantage.
2007-05-09 08:46:45 · answer #9 · answered by az 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They tested that car all during the off season at non Nascar tracks everywhere. They spent millions on r&d and they have the best drivers !! Go # 24 !!!!!The drive for five is still alive !!!!!
2007-05-09 05:51:39 · answer #10 · answered by David G, Jeff Gordon Rules !!!!! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋