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Crew chief
Drew Blickensderfer answers fan questions once a week.
Submit your question
here. |
Oct. 1 , 2009 |
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2009 Q&A
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Q |
Goodyear announced they are testing a wider 17"
tire. What changes to the car mechanically will
be needed if NASCAR approves this tire and how
much of you setup notes from the past will be
usable?
Gary Griffith,
Adairsville, Ga. |
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A |
Body modifications will be made to even accept
the new tire. The other issue is spacing with suspension components. That will
take some modifying to get make sure the tire fits with control arms and
spindles. I am sure set-ups will need adjusted for the difference; things like
stagger will probably change as well.
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Q |
Drew, I am entering the Ford ASSET program this
winter. I wanted to know which are the best,
Snap-on or Mac tools. Everybody says Snap-on is
better than Mac. But I have been seeing a lot of
the NASCAR teams going to Mac tools. Be honest
with me! I have to buy a Ford apprentice set
within the next couple weeks.
James Murray,
Plain City, Ohio |
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A |
That is a trick question. We are sponsored by
Mac so I think they are great. Lifetime warranty
and great service with Mac, and they are usually
cheaper than the other guys.
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Q |
Do all the Roush guys typically report having
the same issues on race day? Like if Matt is
saying his car is “loose in, loose off, and
tight in the center,” is that what everyone is
saying, what all the Roush guys are saying, or
just something going on with Matt’s car? Do the
Roush crew chiefs work together to find a
working combination? For example: 99 tries air
pressure, 17 track bar, 16 both?
John Wright, Milwaukee, Wis. |
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A |
Usually the comments are different but that is
more associated with the difference in set ups
than driving styles. We do look after the
weekend at what the other Roush cars had that
might have attributed to the good runs.
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Q |
A typical impact wrench uses 90 psi and requires
4 to 5 cubic foot per minute of air flow. Do the
wrenchs you use at the track have the same
requirements, or do they use a higher psi or cfm?
Also, does each team have to bring their own
compressor, or does the track provide the air?
Mark Wasserman, Guilford, Conn. |
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A |
Our air guns run 90–110 psi of nitrogen that we
supply. We use nitrogen since compressor air has
moisture that will damage the guns and spray
moisture out of the exhaust causing issues.
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Q |
The last few races, Matt said the car was good
in practice. Then it wasn’t for the race. Why is
there such a big change between practice and
race day?
Tomas Melero, Taylor, Ariz. |
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A |
I think there has been a difference for us
because the cars weren’t really “fast.” We had
them crutched enough in practice to run decent
but not great. When our cars get better they
will be less temperamental to weather changes
and changes in the track on race day. This past
weekend our car reacted to changes and the
weather wasn’t as big of an issue as it was in
the previous weeks.
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