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NASCAR informed teams Friday that it has scheduled an open test at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of an upcoming transition from a front wing to a rear spoiler. The change had been discussed individually with teams, but nothing had been formally announced before the Friday memo to crew chiefs from Sprint Cup Series director John Darby.
“To help put some of the rumor mills to rest, I am sending you the following facts as they relate to changes for 2010,” Darby wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. “We will be transitioning from the usage of the current wing to an aluminum spoiler.” NASCAR will hold an informational meeting for teams in mid-March, and the spoiler will be tested March 23-24 at CMS. No race has been selected for the spoiler debut, but the March 28 event at Martinsville is the earliest the change could be implemented based on the timeline outlined by Darby. The season opens Feb. 14 with the Daytona 500, and Martinsville is the sixth race on the schedule. Darby explained in the memo that NASCAR’s goal in returning to a rear spoiler is to adjust the downforce and balance that is being produced on the current car.
NASCAR in 2007 phased in a new model of race car that replaced the spoiler with a front wing. Many drivers were slow to adapt to the new car, which went to full-time use in 2008, and fans have claimed the car has made the racing boring. NASCAR last May began a series of town hall and individual meetings with teams, and one of the constant cries from participants was a need to alter the car design. The decision to actually do so has come from offseason meetings with drivers, but the timing means teams will have to scramble to adjust inventory that’s already been prepared for this coming season.
Darby said the size and shape of the spoiler will not be determined until NASCAR has a chance to do wind tunnel testing on the car, and once decided, a supplier will be selected to produce the part. Teams will have to purchase the spoiler from the selected supplier. NASCAR will introduce the rule change Thursday [Jan 21st] at the Sprint Media Tour. Other changes anticipated include allowing drivers to bump draft at Daytona and Talladega and giving drivers more control over policing the garage. Also under consideration is doing away with the yellow line rule at Daytona and Talladega, although many drivers are opposed to that.(Associated Press/ESPN)(1-15-2010) courtesy of Jayski
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