Teams ready for 'car of tomorrow' test
By Bob Pockrass
Friday, May 26, 2006
- TEXT SIZE: Increase Text Size Decrease Text Size Reset Text Size
- No Comments. Leave a Comment
- Digg This
- Add to Del.icio.us
- RSS Feeds
Latest Headlines
- David Exum: Humpy Wheeler's presence missed at Lowe's Motor Speedway
- Goodyear could need to build different Nationwide tire in 2010
- Chase For The Sprint Cup glance: Martinsville Speedway
- NASCAR plans no rules changes for Cup cars in 2009
- 25 drivers competing at Drive for Diversity South Boston combine
CONCORD, N.C. - Eight teams fielding Chevrolets and Dodges tentatively plan to attend the "car-of-tomorrow" test Tuesday and Wednesday at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
The two-day test will be the first for many of the teams with cars built under revised specifications after NASCAR recently took cars to the wind tunnel to examine the proposed noses and tails developed by each manufacturer.
Neither Ford nor Toyota will be represented by cars on the track.
Those teams planning to test are Richard Childress Racing (Jeff Burton), Hendrick Motorsports (Brian Vickers), Evernham Motorsports (Scott Riggs), Chip Ganassi Racing (Casey Mears), Joe Gibbs Racing (Denny Hamlin with J.J. Yeley and Tony Stewart also possibly getting in the car), MB2 Motorsports (Joe Nemechek), Dale Earnhardt Inc. (one car with Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr.) and Penske Racing South (Ryan Newman).
NASCAR plans to phase in the car of tomorrow over three years, beginning in 2007 at mostly short tracks and road courses. The 1.5-mile tracks, such as the one near Charlotte, are not scheduled to have the cars race there until 2009. NASCAR has left the door open for 2008 if teams adjust quicker to the new cars than anticipated.
Most of the teams said they are finishing up cars for the test this weekend. On the agenda for the test, in additional to single-car runs, are a series of 20-lap runs to see how the cars react in a pack. It will be the first real aerodynamic test for the cars in a pack since NASCAR has added a wing to the rear of the car in place of the spoilers now being used.
"I think it's going to be a watershed day," DEI technical director Steve Hmiel said Thursday. "Both sides will learn, and both sides will be able to ask a lot of questions. I think it will move the process of development of the car down the road a whole lot quicker."
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Brian Vickers
No Comments
Be the first to comment on "Teams ready for 'car of tomorrow' test". Login or sign up for a free account below to post your comment