Could you call it “back to the future?” Twenty-four NASCAR drivers came to Talladega Superspeedway for the first test of the Car of Tomorrow sans wings, but, with a spoilers and they went eye-poppingly fast.
Drivers and NACAR officials, alike, had a lot to learn as the configuration of the 3,400 pound stock cars is turned back to a more traditional look, and many issues including gear rations and size of spoilers were raised as some drivers exceeded speeds outside of NASCAR’s comfort zone.
For one, Dale Earnhardt Jr. told reporters that he had reached 213mph which was far above the rumored, and denied, 200mph limit which NASCAR prefers.
“You can’t tell a difference from 195 to 215 I don’t think,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I couldn’t tell a difference. We went 213 once, but it felt like 200.”
From the early sessions to the late sessions NASCAR officials brought out smaller and smaller restrictor plates, (a device placed on top of the intake to reduce the flow of fuel and air into the carburetor).
In the morning a restrictor plate of 1 and 1/32 inch was used in single-car practice.
Since the CoT cars never had been designed to race with a spoiler officials also reduced their size also in reaction to how the cars were performing.
By then end of the afternoon session the restrictor plates were cut to 31/32”.
We saw that the closure rates were a little too quick in the initial drafting session after lunch,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition.
“So, we had the teams make some adjustments, including going down on the plate size and trimming the spoiler back some. We believe we came away here today with a good starting point and are looking forward to coming back here next month with a great race.”
Jeff Gordon thought this change will not only please fans on the look of the cars, but also their raciness.
“I think we are going to take some benefits, “ Jeff Gordon said.
“I think the car looks really cool and I think you’re going to see some more great racing here at Talladega next month. You see it all here – you have pile ups, you have three-four wide racing, you have bump drafting and you have passes for the lead.”
Looks like the Aarons 499 might live up to its’ reputation for action, or as Michael Waltrip tweeted “just talked to the guys after the Talladega test, they love the cars!" he said, and "its gonna be wild.”
photo:NASCAR Getty Images
Drivers and NACAR officials, alike, had a lot to learn as the configuration of the 3,400 pound stock cars is turned back to a more traditional look, and many issues including gear rations and size of spoilers were raised as some drivers exceeded speeds outside of NASCAR’s comfort zone.
For one, Dale Earnhardt Jr. told reporters that he had reached 213mph which was far above the rumored, and denied, 200mph limit which NASCAR prefers.
“You can’t tell a difference from 195 to 215 I don’t think,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I couldn’t tell a difference. We went 213 once, but it felt like 200.”
 |
| Photo: NASCAR |
From the early sessions to the late sessions NASCAR officials brought out smaller and smaller restrictor plates, (a device placed on top of the intake to reduce the flow of fuel and air into the carburetor).
In the morning a restrictor plate of 1 and 1/32 inch was used in single-car practice.
Since the CoT cars never had been designed to race with a spoiler officials also reduced their size also in reaction to how the cars were performing.
By then end of the afternoon session the restrictor plates were cut to 31/32”.
We saw that the closure rates were a little too quick in the initial drafting session after lunch,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition.
“So, we had the teams make some adjustments, including going down on the plate size and trimming the spoiler back some. We believe we came away here today with a good starting point and are looking forward to coming back here next month with a great race.”
Jeff Gordon thought this change will not only please fans on the look of the cars, but also their raciness.
“I think we are going to take some benefits, “ Jeff Gordon said.
“I think the car looks really cool and I think you’re going to see some more great racing here at Talladega next month. You see it all here – you have pile ups, you have three-four wide racing, you have bump drafting and you have passes for the lead.”
Looks like the Aarons 499 might live up to its’ reputation for action, or as Michael Waltrip tweeted “just talked to the guys after the Talladega test, they love the cars!" he said, and "its gonna be wild.”
photo:NASCAR Getty Images