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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: They Said It, CMS Edition
Not everyone was happy with the spoiler test at Charlotte Motor Speedway...
Tom Jensen  |  Posted March 24, 2010   Charlotte, NC
NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Carl Edwards will be making his 200th career start at Phoenix. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
While most drivers professed to be pleased with how NASCAR’s two-day spoiler test at Charlotte Motor Speedway went, not everyone was overjoyed as they struggled to come to terms with the new aero package.

Charlotte NSCS Testing Speeds Afternoon Session Day 1

Charlotte NSCS Testing Speeds Morning Session Day 1

Following is a selection of comments and observations from drivers, crew chiefs and officials over the two days.

“Our test is going lousy, actually. We’re very slow and it’s very frustrating. We worked very hard all day yesterday and we’ve worked hard this morning. I would love to be able to say that we’re really fast and it’s going well, but we’re learning all the things that aren’t working. ... The good thing is Paul Menard was pretty fast, so that’s good. We can go look at his notes.” — Carl Edwards.

“We might not be the first team to find the magic the spoiler wants, but we're usually pretty good at finding stuff in a hurry, and then the fact that it's a new element to the car brings a few months' worth of opportunity, I think. We saw that with the wing coming along, and truthfully the competition that was really, really equal before the wing has now gone away. I mean, the start of any rule change you have your largest separation, and then as time goes on, the teams that are behind catch up. — Jimmie Johnson.

“We're really not looking to have more tests. You know, the teams nowadays are better prepared. I think with the testing ban that has been in place, many of the teams have shored up their simulation and some of their off-site testing or testing at facilities or proving grounds to get their information. So really this should have been a one-off deal to help them prepare for the rest of the big racetracks as they come up. I think this is probably one of the most important tests that they've had in the last two years, and we don't anticipate another test at the mile and a half this year.” — Robin Pemberton.

“I think it’s important for everyone, not just us. It’s important for everyone because right now, it’s a good time in the season to have this test, because everyone has seen how strong the 48 (Jimmie Johnson) is. Us, along with everyone else, is seeing that what we had is not good enough, so we’re throwing a lot of stuff at it, hoping to get that speed that he has.” — Denny Hamlin.

“I think the car looks a tremendous amount better. It looks more like you'd expect a car to look in NASCAR racing I guess you could say. That's what our sport has been built around and what our fans are used to looking at. So, I think we have a good timeline as to when the spoiler is getting put on. The look of it is better. I think there are a lot of things in the process to make more changes on the car as we go forward in the next year or two.” — Kevin Harvick.

“This is the first time I’ve driven the spoiler and it’s the first time I’ve driven on this tire. The tire is different than what we had last year, so is it the spoiler I’m feeling in the corner? Is it the tire I’m feeling in the corner? It’s kind of difficult to say, but there’s definitely more drag on the straightaway and then you just work around the feeling in the corner. It’s just fine, but it’s hard to say exactly what’s going on in the corners because this is my first time with the spoiler.” — Kasey Kahne.

“I think it looks a lot better. I am anxious to see what it is going to be in race conditions around other cars.” — Jeff Gordon.

“I think the racing is going to be a little more difficult, honestly. But by themselves, they’re nicer to drive, I think. The car is just snugger and has a little more grip. Clearly it’s faster, but I think you’re going to see a little bit bigger split when you have to race right behind people in a big pack.” — Scott Speed.

“Initially Kyle (Busch) was pleased with the spoiler. Off the truck he felt like he could get into the corner real well. But it’s way too early to tell, everyone is still shaking down their car. I think we’re all taking advantage of an open test and trying to learn some stuff. We’re really not going to know a whole lot until we get out there in traffic.” — Dave Rogers.

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEEDtv.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100 and e-mail him at Jensen is the author of “Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of Speed,” and has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association and an NMPA Writer of the Year.

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