As to the 50 year safe practice of racing back to the caution, the key word in all of these reports is, of course, "almost". Before, the racing was much more interesting. During green, there was the drama of trying to stay "on the tail end of the lead lap". Then during a caution, the drama of the race back, and the intrigue of who might let a buddy back and who might race somebody hard. The the pit stop. Now, with pit crews trained to perfection, if the caution comes out, come back in 20 minutes. NOTHING important will have happened. The NASCAR decline started the day of this over-reaction to an event that DID NOT HAPPEN.
As to Hendrick, between cars he admits to owning, cars he owns in secret, cars that he supplies engines for and so on, he controls 40% of the field. That means, if he wants to spend $X to make the cars 0.000001% faster, he can spread that investment over 10-20 sponsorshps. Other have to keep up with only 2 or 3 or 4 cars. It is his "secret" to dominating.
And the wisdom of this is shown in the seas of empty seats and in the cut by 40% or more TV ratings.
France is in over his head. Its time men ran the sport and demanded men race in it.