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Well it's not exactly what you or I would think it would be - apparently it's located inside the car, and because of the way the airflow is in regards to it, it actually gives some downforce. It's enough of a problem and gives enough of an advantage that NASCAR went after some people at Daytona for doing it. They won't take Carl's win away.

If it was as simple as you or would think it would be, NASCAR wouldn't be hauling Carl's car all the way back to Charlotte.

“If it was as simple as you or would think it would be, NASCAR wouldn’t be hauling Carl’s car all the way back to Charlotte”

Exactly. The COT is still a work in progress. We may not understand every engineering aspect of the car, so NASCAR is going to look closer to see what the problem is, as in a design flaw, or a rules violation.

Bringing up the Nationwide cars as an example of some kind of violation is not pertinent to the COT car. The Nationwide cars are of the previous design. So comparing 5 violations for oil coolers on Nationwide cars is a moot point in this current investigation.

I have been involved in racing for 2 decades. The oil cooler better work properly. Without the lid on securely, or the pitch of the cooler airflow at the correct angle the oil cooler won’t work efficiently. There are absolutely no advantages in an improper installation.
Hot oil breaks down and loses it’s lubricating efficiency. Turning an engine continuously at high RPM creates more heat and friction. If you have ever seen a bearing fail because of heat, you see an engine fail. I have seen it many times. Believe me. One cannot cheat on the lubrication of a racing engine because lubrication is the key issue in 90% of engine failures.

I don’t know where people can read cheating into this incident.

apparently it's located inside the car, and because of the way the airflow is in regards to it, it actually gives some downforce.

That's what I was thinking. I'm sure Nascar will cite some new obscure rule to cover their butt if there is no advantage. I'm also sure Mikey will "explain" it to us tonight...