NASCAR opposed to use of bleeder valves

In other forms of motorsport, including short track and dirt racing, bleeder valves [for tires] are commonplace and allowed. That has been the number one question in the aftermath of the tire tampering penalty handed down to Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing and the #31 Sprint Cup Series team last week.

This had prompted numerous drivers to suggest that NASCAR would be better off allowing bleeder valves as well. Jeff Gordon has been perhaps the most vocal proponent of bleeder valves in the Sprint Cup garage. Sprint Cup Series director Richard Buck [says] the technology is too inconsistent for use in NASCAR.

"In regard to the tire bleeders, we work our partner Goodyear and with our teams and at this point, I personally don't know if there are any bleeders out there at the level that these cars would require," Buck told Popular Speed on Friday afternoon.

"I know there are other forms of motorsports like dirt car racing and sprint car racing that I've seen before and (those valves) were very touchy and non-repeatable. If they fail, it was a catastrophic failure of the system, so I don't think there is a system that is out there today."

Furthermore, Buck is content without having bleeder valves because it's the same and fair for everyone in the garage. "It allows teams to adjust on the tires," Buck continued.

"It allows for drivers to provide feedback on the tires. A driver can change the handling based on how he changes the load of the tire pressure. "So there still a lot of human interaction in working with the tires." (Popular Speed)