RPM 2Night reported that the Pontiac team will be able to use a new rear bumper cover starting at Michigan. It will be optional until the Pepei 400 at Daytona. AND….from SpeedVision: NASCAR announced that the Winston Cup Pontiacs will be able to use a new rear bumper cover on the 2000 model, starting with next weekends event at Michigan Speedway. The Winston Cup series is currently preparing for this weekends race at Dover Downs International Speedway. The bumper cover will be optional equipment for the 10 Pontiac teams in the series, but becomes mandatory after June 28(SpeedVision). What is a rear bumper cover you ask? from NOL: Dimensionally there is no significant difference. The improvement comes from a marginally higher ground clearance to the bottom of the bumper cover on the Grand Prix(6-1-2000) UPDATE: That’s Racin’ (as is the Gaston Gazette) is reporting the new cover can be used at Dover this weekend and that Winston Cup director Gary Nelson is expected to address the rule change during a visit to the speedway’s infield media center on Saturday, NASCAR spokesman Rick Oleshak said(That’s Racin’) UPDATE 2: #10 Lycos Team Reaction to New Pontiac Rules – NASCAR announced Thursday that a new rear bumper cover for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix will go into effect after this weekend’s race in Dover. The modification is optional to Pontiac teams until June 28, 2000 when all teams must use the newly approved rear bumper cover. #10 Crew Chief, James Ince On Pontiac’s New Rear Bumper: “That is good news to us. We figure it is about half of what our Lycos Pontiac needs but it is a step in the right direction and we applaud NASCAR for listening to us. We are halfway there. The rear bumper is optional at Michigan, but you better bet we are going to run it in there. We have tested what they approved in a windtunnel and liked what we saw. The new rear bumper helps in that it allows air to escape underneath the car which makes it a little bit better aerodynamically on the track. I said last week that we were about 200 pounds of downforce behind the Chevrolet and Ford, but I think we are getting closer to them. Will the race fans notice it on the track? I hope so.” #10 Driver Johnny Benson: “Sounds good to us. We will run whatever they give us. The new back bumper should help but we will just have to wait and see how it is on the track.”(Tyler Jet Motorsports) and from That’s Racin’: Pontiac teams hope for more help(6-2-2000)
