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It depends. NASCAR rules with an iron fist. They aren't going to get bullied by manufacturers. I don't think the manufacturers have as much pull with the IRL either as compared to sports car racing. That leads to a bit more predictability because you know where the series stands on certain issues. This is not to say that things are totally certain, but things seem more chaotic in European manufacturer-centric racing.
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NASCAR and Indy are very much different from sports car racing. NASCAR listens to suggestions made by manufacturers (example: trying to make the cars more road relevant) but NASCAR decides the size of the engines, what fuel is used, what tires, etc. Indycar is basically a spec series, and once again, the manufacturers only care about the engine regs.
However, in sports car racing, there are so many different technologies on the same track that it is near impossible to provide a perfect solution. The ACO lets manufacturers decide the rules because those manufacturers are ultimately the ones investing in their respect programs. They build everything from the chassis to the engine and everything in between.
Chevrolet or Ford don't build NASCAR cars, the teams (like Hendrick and Roush do that). Same applies to Indycar.
Manufacturers are what keep sports car racing alive, and unfortunately, they have to have their way. Now, with Audi, Toyota, Porsche, and possibly Nissan and Peugeot in for 2014, deciding on a set of regulations will be a nightmare. This time I believe it is the duty of the ACO to release a confirmed set of rules before the end of this season in order for manufacturers and privaters to start preparing.