At least two more tire tests planned for Indianapolis
CONCORD, N.C. – NASCAR expects to have at least two more Goodyear tire tests at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before the Allstate 400 there in late July.
Last year, NASCAR had to throw the caution every 12 to 13 laps during the race so teams could change tires and reduce the risk of tire failures. The tire rubber, instead of adhering to the track, turned into rubble and dust, causing a grating effect on the tires that eventually would cause them to blow.
“Our tentative plan is [for] at least two more tire tests at Indianapolis,” NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said Thursday during the Sprint Media Tour. “We’ve made some great strides. I think they’ve got the tire picked that they need.
“We’re going to go back, and do, if not a development test, maybe start to do confirmation tests. There will be at least two of those.”
Pemberton said the tire tests could include more than just one driver from each of the four manufacturers.
“It could be a little bit more than that, give or take, depending on what Goodyear needs to do their tests,” Pemberton said. “It takes a little more track time to rubber in the surface, and it’s a little bit easier to do with a couple of extra cars.”
