Have you noticed that ever since ford switched from the taurus to the fusion, their success has gone downhill?

Question

can anyone tell me?

Answer 1

Doesn't mean it's the car.  Understand that the driver's are driving the "car of tomorrow", which has a different body and different center of gravity, causing tires to wear differently and cars to run differently due to down force, etc.  Notice that Jimmie Johnson had it all locked up last year in a Chevy, and now Toy cars ore taking over?  Due to changes caused by the new body style.  

Answer 2

any change in performance by the fords has more to do with the switch to the COT from the old-style car than changing the sticker on the front from "taurus" to "fusion." and their success hasn't necessarily gone that far downhill. there are three ford teams in the top 12 right now (edwards - 5th; biffle - 7th; kenseth - 11th), and a fourth ream (ragan - 14th) not far behind.

the biggest change in performance was the switch to the COT. roush acknowledged they were behind with their COT program last year and stepped it up bigtime and the results are now showing. plus, the new car favors the drivers that can handle a loose racecar and they have fared better - in particular carl edwards. biffle hasn't been a slouch there either, just had some bad luck. and kenseth, well, he always likes to lurk and come from behind, just as he has done in the points over the past two months - from 22nd to 11th, and he would be higher had it not been for his tire explosion at indy.

Answer 3

But Carl Edwards has boomed. I think it's just Roush has struggled  a little bit with the COT. But they've got it down pat on the mile and a half tracks.

Answer 4

Nope

Answer 5

Don't think the Fusion is causing their problems. Jack seems to be losing the edge he once held. Too busy bashing Toyota I guess. Seriously, they haven't kept up with Hendrick and now Gibbs. It wasn't too long ago that Ford won every thing or at least it seemed they did. But the Fusion is not the source of their problems.

Answer 6

I think he's doing pretty good since they are still using the same engines and GM and Toyota are using new advanced engines. They are tough in the Nationwide series. Most of everybody's problems is just the new car of tomorrow.

Answer 7

Its not the body that's the problem.  NASCAR has templates so they racing body really didn't change.

The problem lies in the engine.  They have the oldest engine in NASCAR and have been repeatedly rejected when they propose a new one.  Also Roush is really the only good Ford team left.  Yates is no longer the team it once was.

Roush racing really took off (and finally won championships) once he started using Yates engines.  He always had great handling slightly under powered cars.  Yates always had some of the best engines in NASCAR but didn't always have the chassis/body to make it work.