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CUP: Aero Package For Plate Races Evaluated
Written by: Bob Pockrass
SceneDaily.com   http://www.scenedaily.com
11/24/2009
Charlotte, NC
 
NASCAR President Mike Helton says the sanctioning body hasn’t ruled out the possibility of making aerodynamic changes to the Sprint Cup cars for Daytona that could require a test at the track prior to Speedweeks in February. (Photo: LAT Photographi » More Photos

NASCAR hasn’t ruled out the possibility of making aerodynamic changes to the Sprint Cup cars for Daytona that could require a test at the track prior to Speedweeks in February, NASCAR President Mike Helton said Monday.

Helton talked about changes to the Cup car during a luncheon prior to the NNS/NCWTS Awards Banquet tonight.

With NASCAR Chairman Brian France talking Friday about changes to the car possibly happening during the offseason, Helton expanded on what changes have been made and what the future holds.

One piece of the Cup car that could get changed is the aero package for Daytona and Talladega. Cars went airborne in each of the Talladega races this year. NASCAR has wind-tunnel tests scheduled in a couple of weeks for the Cup car focused on restrictor-plate tracks.

Wild Rides At Talladega

“[We’re] specifically looking at the chemistry of the roof flaps because we have the ability through the camera angles and data collection to learn more about the incidents [at Talladega], particularly the 39 [of Ryan Newman] at Talladega this past October. We can learn more,” Helton said. “We will do things over the offseason and if it is a major change for Daytona, we may have to do something [test]
there to take a look at it. We’ll have to wait and see what we find out from the wind tunnel and a complete evaluation.”

As far as any rule changes for the car for races not at Daytona and Talladega, Helton said only to anticipate subtle changes.

“I don’t see anything glaring that has to be fixed, and there is not an overwhelming consensus of anything major [to change],” Helton said. “I still won’t sit here and tell you there won’t be something. … We always put out a rule book and then we put out a lot of [technical] bulletins along the way.

“Several years ago we made a commitment to the team owners not to make major changes without a lot of advance warning. We’re at the end of the season. We’re not that far from the opening of the next season so advance warning, I think, is something that would have to be factored in and we’re in that period.”

The car at times has been blamed for being difficult to adjust and also for too much single-file racing. The rear wing, which replaced a splitter, also has been a topic of conversation. The new Nationwide Series car, which will be introduced for four races in 2010 before a full rollout in 2011, has a splitter instead of a wing. It also has more manufacturer identity features in the front, which also will help with front downforce.


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