THEY say everything is bigger in America, but while NASCAR stock cars certainly have more grunt than V8 Supercars, the Aussie vehicles are more technically advanced in almost every respect.
From afar, the vehicles look quite similar, although the V8 is closer - in appearance at least - to its road car equivalent.
A NASCAR stock car is a far more beastly-looking creature – V8 driver James Courtney described a recent go in one as like “wrestling a bear” – with its heftier horsepower carrying almost 150kg more on narrower tyres.
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Aussie NASCAR driver Marcos Ambrose has described the American cars as “dinosaurs” that are “bloody heavy”.
“We have a skinny tyre, a steel wheel and not enough brakes,” he said.
“You are just constantly fighting the machine because the car won’t do it for you. You have to fight physics and slide the car around a lot.
“You have to be really aggressive. You seriously earn your money and you have to get on the wheel and fight.
"You have to get after it. It is no easy feat just to finish a race.”
Both types of cars are designed for excellence in their respective environments, with NASCAR races taking place on enormous left-turning ovals as opposed to road courses.
So it’s generally accepted that NASCAR vehicles would have the better of it on an oval course, while a head-to-head on the Circuit of the Americas – where the Austin 400 is taking place – would result in a straightforward win for a V8.
See how the specs compare below:
Engine
V8: 5-litre V8
NASCAR: 5.7 litre V8
V8: 5-litre V8
NASCAR: 5.7 litre V8
Power
V8: 470+ kW (635+ bhp)
NASCAR: 588+kW (800+ bhp)
V8: 470+ kW (635+ bhp)
NASCAR: 588+kW (800+ bhp)
Total weight
V8: 1400kg
NASCAR: 1542kg
V8: 1400kg
NASCAR: 1542kg
Wheels
V8: 18-inch
NASCAR: 15-inch
V8: 18-inch
NASCAR: 15-inch
Tyres
V8: 12-inch Dunlops
NASCAR: 11.5 inch Goodyears
V8: 12-inch Dunlops
NASCAR: 11.5 inch Goodyears
Top speed
V8: 298km/h
NASCAR: 322km/h
V8: 298km/h
NASCAR: 322km/h
Gearbox
V8: 6-speed sequential
NASCAR: 4-speed manual
V8: 6-speed sequential
NASCAR: 4-speed manual
Total length
V8: 489cm
NASCAR: 518cm
V8: 489cm
NASCAR: 518cm
Width
V8: 188cm
NASCAR: 191cm
V8: 188cm
NASCAR: 191cm
A V8 Supercar and its NASCAR equivalent are put through their paces at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Picture: Supplied / Keith D Rizzo
Height
V8: 122cm
NASCAR: 130cm
V8: 122cm
NASCAR: 130cm
Wheelbase
V8: 282cm
NASCAR: 279cm
V8: 282cm
NASCAR: 279cm
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