Monday Rundown: Don't get too used to new aerodynamic package
— -- BROOKLYN, Mich. -- NASCAR has tried to create an environment in which rules can adapt and change quickly. But for now, it will stay the course in many of its competition issues, especially when it comes to rule packages.
After using an experimental aerodynamic package Sunday that reduced downforce by 500 pounds and side force by 125 pounds at the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR officials said Sunday afternoon that they still intend to use it again in the July 9 race at the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway.
Beyond that? They remain hesitant in implementing the changes -- a shorter spoiler, no rear skew, among other tweaks -- for additional races.
"We were deliberately at a big track, [then going to a] smaller track, so this will continue with the plan," NASCAR senior vice president of competition Scott Miller said. "It won't change direction at this moment."
Miller and senior vice president Gene Stefanyshyn, who oversees the design of the cars, said officials liked what they saw Sunday but that they do need to evaluate certain things, considering the field did get strung out.
One key, according to Stefanyshyn and drivers, will be how Goodyear develops the tires. Goodyear has developed a tire that wears gradually for the 2016 rules package, and there is optimism that if NASCAR uses the Michigan/Kentucky package for 2017, Goodyear can create a tire that would race better than it did at Michigan.
"Up to this point, Goodyear has been way ahead of NASCAR," said three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart. "NASCAR is finally catching up. So now we are getting the split between the two groups closed up.
"The good thing is Goodyear is primed and ready to do all the stuff they need to do. They have been waiting on NASCAR. It's coming around. ... We got to drive the cars. We got to make a difference in the car and manipulate things. That is what we have all been wanting."
NASCAR and teams will get a chance to evaluate the experimental package Monday and Tuesday in a test at Kentucky Speedway. Each organization can send one team and one driver to the two-day test. They then will get data in the race with the hope of making a decision for 2017.
As for the August race at Michigan? NASCAR now has data on the potential 2017 package, so it might want to use the 2016 package then, so it can compare data between the two. That could be too late though, considering the Aug. 28 race at Michigan comes four weeks after NASCAR hopes to have made a decision on its 2017 rules.
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