Why No Three Car Draft?

I have been thinking about the two car drafts in the 2011 Daytona 500 where the first car was a "puller" and the second a "pusher". This made for a new style of drafting and for a very exciting 500 mile race!

This became possible due to a number of elements.

Firstly the cars have bumpers that line up perfectly. In the past the rear bumper was slightly higher than the front nose so when touching the front cars trunk was lifted off of the ground, loosening the car up in the turns. The latest generation of Cup car was designed with bumpers that line up enabling the cars to bump draft without lifting the car in front.

Secondly the new tarmac at Daytona! Smooth, smooth, smooth! No bumps or dips to throw the cars around!

Two cars have always been better than one at Daytona, and three better than two. Not being an expert in the field of aerodynamics I am perplexed by why three cars couldn't draft together? 

If the car in front is braking slightly to keep the two cars together, and the second car is constantly pushing, why can't a third car use the hole in the air created by the first two and come along for the ride? I understand that the third car would not be able to bump draft, as the second car would be a pinball in the middle, however I am surprised that other cars, other pairs, were not able to "old school" draft along behind.

 

As the last lap "slingshot" seems to be alive and well, you would assume the "draft" still works, so why no third car?

Were the cars "drafting" at all, or were they just pushing each other to faster speeds? 


Do we really care as the race was so good?

Will we see more of the same at Talladega?

Food for thought...