[LEADERS EDGE]

You can't compare NASCAR and F1 to what we do. One reason is the length of the events. It isn't apples to apples.

An open tire rule works because it allows teams to make their own tire deals. Often based on merit; tire deals help teams save money. A direct savings as oppossed to possibly making it back in the points fund.

I know USAC is currently having meetings regarding cost and they are looking at items such as Carbon bodies, but I know of Carbon companies offering bodies at prices comparable to fiberglass/aluminum. Carbon costs are starting to come down and as they are integrated more into the street car world, they will get cheaper. I think that is a moot point. Besides, the teams with money will just paint them and lay a piece of cloth on the bottom and say it's fiberglass; like they used to.

Titanium is very expensive, but as a fastener it doesn't gain much more than a race bolt; so there is already a cheaper alternative so if the teams take ti. over the hollow bolt, that is just their choice and it doesn't gain much.
Ti. driveshafts are lighter and very expensive, but outlawing them would mean that a plug would have to be placed in the torque tube and someone would actually have to check it.

The expensive bolt on/not commonly replaced items should only be looked at after a large recurring expense like tires are addressed.