With engines revving and crew members scurrying in the garage, Wednesday’s first day of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series testing at Bristol Motor Speedway looked typical rather than ground-breaking.
But with the morning sun creeping over skyboxes, Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) officially kicked off a historic day – driving the first Car of Tomorrow to take the track at 9:20 a. m.
This week’s two-day session is in advance of the Food City 500 on March 25, the first event where teams will compete with their Car of Tomorrow model. Fifty teams were scheduled to test Wednesday and Thursday at Bristol.
“This is an interesting day, †said Jeff Burton (No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet) of Wednesday’s session. “I’ve never seen such a big change, you know, happen in NASCAR. We’re all here at the same time trying to figure it out. People are going to leave here with ideas and come back with other ideas based on what they learned here. â€
The March event at Bristol is the first of 16 this season slated to be run with the Car of Tomorrow. A seven-year project by NASCAR’s Research & Development Center, it features significant safety enhancements, including a larger cockpit, double frame rail with steel plating, energy-absorbing materials in the side and a safer fuel cell. The car also features improved competition, better cost management for teams and increased manufacturer identity.
“The first thing about it is the car is safer, †said Daytona 500 champion Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet). “Whatever it is after that is a bonus. The drivers have more room inside. There are a lot of things built into the car to absorb energy when they hit the wall. That’s just the starting point. â€
Visually, the Car of Tomorrow has two new, noticeable components: A front “splitter†that slices through, and catches air, and a rear wing instead of a spoiler. Both aerodynamic pieces are adjustable, which gives teams two easier-to-operate, more-efficient tools.
Reigning series champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), fifth-fastest in Wednesday morning’s session, said he’s learning the racetrack feel of the splitter.
“I can feel it getting into the corners, †Johnson said. “In the past a lot of drivers would dip their left front tire under the yellow line on corner entry to help the car rotate. Now you can feel the splitter; it’s sticking out a little further than what we’re used to. You can feel it touching. I had to alter my line into Turn 1 just a little bit. Nothing major. â€
| 
|