NASCAR Softer race tires would add an element of strategy

A switch to softer tires would be appreciated by many Winston Cup teams.
SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
NASCAR is mulling whether to soften tires for the 2004 season, a change that would be appreciated by many Winston Cup teams.
Softer tires could lessen the impact of track position and fuel mileage and result in closer races.
"The way it sounds for next year, we might have a softer tire, a tire that gives up, so that type stuff won't happen," said Jimmy Johnson.
Ramifications
Softer tires also would add an element of strategy not seen in races in recent years. The tires used by NASCAR three years ago were soft and lost their grip over the course of a race, which meant a driver was forced to manage his tires so they would last an 80-lap run. A driver who abused his tires during the first 20 laps might go to the front, but the lack of grip those tires would offer over the next 60 laps would send the driver backward through the field.
The harder tires used today provide a more consistent grip. Tire management isn't the factor it used to be, with track position and pit strategy taking its place. Passing has been at a premium, with many races being won on pit road and with fuel mileage rather than on the track.
Harder tires are being blamed for that.
"There is a debate out there on ways to cut speeds," Johnson said. "Where Goodyear is positioned is that these cars are building so much downforce and they're going so fast that we need a hard tire to support that. They've gone through spells where they've had a lot of right fronts blowing. They want to build a safe tire. If NASCAR is able to take away the downforce, then that is going to mean slower speeds. And then we could start looking at a softer tire."
Critic gone soft
Defending Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart has been a critic of Goodyear and what he believes are inconsistent tires.
"Goodyear has made some changes with the tire and, in all reality, probably made it safer for all of us," Stewart said
"The teams that were struggling with the tires now have a tire that's harder to abuse. That helps protect Goodyear, which Goodyear had to look at because they had to take care of themselves, too. We've got a harder tire that makes you slide around a lot more on the racetrack, and that makes the balance of the car very critical."
Stewart had fresher tires Saturday night and was able to outlast Ryan Newman to win the UAW-GM Quality 500. Stewart was happy the fastest car finally won out over "fuel mileage and strategy."
Rusty Wallace also is urging a return to softer tires. "Once Goodyear and NASCAR finally see fit to soften this tire up, you're going to see a lot of really good races," Wallace said. "These tires nowadays are real, real hard. Once we soften them up, it'll get much, much better."
Newman, who has employed unique fuel strategies in several of his eight victories this season, praised Goodyear after Saturday night's race.
He likes them
"I've got to thank Goodyear -- their tires are awesome," he said. "We got our balance right, and it paid off. It's great to be able to have great mechanical balance and make the Goodyear tires last.
"We had a good 30 laps more on our tires and were still as fast as he [Stewart] was. It's OK. He can finally roast off a set of Goodyears now."
Jeremy Mayfield, however, questioned his tires after the race. "It seems the tire deal has been weird, but I'm not going to complain about it because I'd get in trouble like Tony Stewart did," Mayfield said. "Every set was different, and it hasn't been like that in a while."