NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
  • Peg It on GarageMonkey
CUP: Gordon – Spoiler Not A Big Change
Drivers found no big surprises with the new spoiler during the first day of testing at Charlotte Tuesday...
Mike Hembree  |  Posted March 23, 2010   Concord, NC
Jeff Gordon said this weeks test of the new spoilers at Charlotte Motor Speedway is a great opportunity for all the teams to gather information in light of NASCAR's ban on testing. (Photo: Getty Images)
NASCAR drivers completed the first of two days of spoiler test runs at Charlotte Motor Speedway Tuesday with no incidents and general agreement that the cars’ new configuration is a plus.

Charlotte NSCS Testing Speeds Afternoon Session Day 1

Charlotte NSCS Testing Speeds Morning Session Day 1

“I really didn’t feel a big change,” Jeff Gordon said Tuesday night at the end of the afternoon test runs. “I think it went really well. There were no big surprises. The cars drove good. And you don’t want surprises going into Martinsville.”

The new spoilers will be used in competition for the first time this weekend in the Goody’s Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Tuesday’s test runs – and another round from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday – are specifically geared toward fast tracks like CMS and Texas Motor Speedway.

Teams generally ran single-car runs Tuesday, avoiding putting cars in groups to see how the spoilers react when the cars are in packs. Some drivers expect to make runs in that fashion Wednesday.

With testing at series tracks banned, teams are using this week’s rare runs at CMS as an opportunity to put cars through a spectrum of tests in preparation for upcoming races.

“This is a great opportunity for all the teams to be able to come here,” Gordon said. “Everybody came well-prepared because we don’t get this opportunity to have tests like this these days. It was a very important day for us, as tomorrow (Wednesday) will be. We certainly gathered a lot of information.”

Unlike practice sessions on race weekends, teams were able to use data-acquisition systems to record testing information.

Tuesday’s runs were divided into morning and afternoon sessions. Juan Pablo Montoya had the fastest morning run at 185.976 mph. Paul Menard was fastest in the afternoon at 185.312.

Speeds were generally slower in the afternoon session, a circumstance Gordon said was caused by warmer afternoon temperatures.

“There is no major change in the feel of the car, which to me is good,” Gordon said. “Some of it’s a wash as far as what the car is going to drive and feel like. But I’m anxious to see what it’s going to do around other cars.”

Photo Gallery: Charlotte Spoiler Test

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEEDtv.com and has been covering motorsports for 28 years. He has written several books on NASCAR, including "NASCAR: The Definitive History of America's Sport" and "Then Tony Said To Junior: The Best NASCAR Stories Ever Told". He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

Play! SPEED Fantasy Racing Cup Edition - Spring Series
mike.hembree's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Hembree

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2013

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.