News for March 6th 2010
Interview with Jeff Gordon
JEFF GORDON, NO. 24 DUPONT/NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET, met with members of the media at Atlanta Motor Speedway and discussed racing at Atlanta, new softer barriers at Bristol, state of the sport and other topics.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BRISTOL; THE SAFER BARRIERS MOVED IN, WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? “Oh yes. We use every inch of that race track. It is definitely going to be unique. I am anxious to get there and see how many right sides we take off the first hour of practice. It is like anything else, eventually you get used to it. Then it is going to come down to the side-by-side racing and how that is going to affect that aspect of it. I think the most important thing is that you are really going to have to get your car working well. Because, you narrow the track up that means it might be a little harder to pass. I like the safety aspect of it. It is definitely a good thing. I’m all for. I wish there was a way to move walls so we could keep the width of the track the way it was. But, that’s not the case so we are real happy they put the safety barriers up there on the straightaways.” (more…)
Edited: March 6th, 2010
NASCAR sets limits for spoilers
There are still many unknowns in the advent of the transition from wings to spoilers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but the pieces are coming together.
There are still many unknowns in the advent of the transition from wings to spoilers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but the pieces are coming together.
Teams have received retro-fit pieces to adjust the template grids for the change from the wing to the spoiler which will measure four inches on intermediate and down force tracks and 4.5-inches at Talladega and Daytona. A two-inch “ear” will be at the ends of 64.5-inch spoiler for Talladega similar to the construction on the truck spoilers. All spoilers will mount on to the cars at exactly 70-degrees without adjustability, thereby preventing modification by individual teams.
Although NASCAR is preparing for the roll out of the new spoilers at Martinsville Speedway on March 26, teams will be responsible for manufacturing their own spoilers for the test scheduled on March 16th at Talladega Speedway. (more…)
Edited: March 6th, 2010
Mark Martin expects a wilder race at Talladega this year
Mark Martin expects the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway to be even more wide open than usual next month.
“The racing will be much wilder than it’s ever been,” Martin said.
The reason?
Talladega will be one of the first races of the season in which the new car will be matched with the old spoiler instead of the wing. A test session is planned for March 16 at the track to see what effect the spoiler has.
But the spoiler is expected to add drag, an aerodynamic effect that works to slow the car. That means NASCAR is likely to increase engine horsepower by increasing the size of the holes in the restrictor plates.
Martin, who has never been a big fan of racing at Talladega, said that should make for an even better show for fans.
“Not so sure it’s good for the color of our hair as drivers,” he said.
Edited: March 6th, 2010