[Jeff Higgins]

NASCAR specifies the chassis, the suspension, the brakes, the transmission, the carburetor, the wheels and tires, the shape of the car from the base of the windshield to the base of the rear window, among other details. It is a spec series today, with the only allowable variables being the front end sheet metal, quarterpanels and trunk, and the brand-specific motor. Even those are indistinguishable from one another. Two valve wedge heads, pushrods, V8's. They have a list of aproved chassis builders, just like CART.

The new F1 rules set to take affect shortly get a great deal closer to this. The FIA will provide transmissions, engine management systems, and brakes. This will be in addition to the spec wheel/tire for next year. They have specified the number of cylinders for years; long gone are the V-12's, V-8's, turbo charged 4's all running together. They simply cannot afford to hve the idylic "run what ya brung" attitude anymore; just a couple of teams have a lot more to bring. They had to reign it in a bit.

Even Top Fuel, the last bastion of wide-open racing, has gotten more and more regulated in recent years. 500 inch maximum displacement, 80% nitro maximum, spec rear end ratio, maximum wheelbase, minimum weight. And the still hit 330-something in the traps. Something had to be done for safety's sake, even here. The days of wide-open, no holds barred racing at any level are gone. Technology has outstripped both the tracks and human ability.