Originally posted by Doug Gaut
Wouldnt it be better to just run the car as is instead of replacing all these parts with aluminum? The hits a car takes is tremendous and something HAS to give in the event of a wreck. All the aluminum is going to do is either bend or transmit the impact to another part of the car. Next thing you know hinge pins and chassis are going to be broke. A little flex is good. Dont you think that Erik would have designed more parts out of aluminum if they were actually better. Besides, aluminum is adding more weight to the car in some areas which is raising the center of gravity and could hamper handling as well.
Bling does not equal speed. 
They probably would have designed more parts out of aluminum if it wasn't for budget constraints. It's well known that aluminum parts in the right places can seriously increase the duarability of a car, you can finish with a bent part rather than a DNF with a broken part.