Giant Treadmill Built For NASCAR Testing

There is nothing that new about this as the Formula 1 teams have been doing this for quiet some time.

You beat me to it, you sly old dog. Of course, F1 teams aren't daft enough to build a full size wind tunnel, they have scaled down versions and run scale models. And a scaled down price tag, as changes are easier and cheaper on a model. (not to mension the wind tunnel cost!)

Certainly the capital costs of a complete F1 full scale windtunnel would eliminate some teams from considering such a project, though not all. Honda completed theirs in 2005, with an interesting statement on why a full scale is more desireable and ultimately more cost effective.

Q: Honda Racing F1 Team already has a half-scale wind tunnel at Brackley; what are the advantages of a full-scale facility?

http://www.formula1.com/news/3874.html

Obviously Honda has the bling, though one could argue that firing their Chief AD didn't help, though perhaps a Massa or Hamilton clone could work too.

If by "quite some time" you mean within in the last 2 years then I would agree. Only very recently has a ful lscale rolling road been incorporated within a fullscale subsonic WT.

http://www.formula1.com/news/3874.html

And I doubt the forerunners were as mobile. I think it is a great accomplishment!