Same Rules at Daytona UPDATE – slight change for Fords: NASCAR has told teams the same aerodynamic and engine package used in last fall’s race at Talladega will be used in testing(the next two weeks for Ford, GM, Dodge at Daytona). Those rules helped create 49 lead changes and a spectacular finish. Dale Earnhardt went from 18th to first in the final five laps to win. The engines will have 15/16 of an inch restrictor plates, which reduce the airflow to the carburetor and reduce horsepower. The aerodynamic changes include roof strips, increased rear spoiler angle, increased front air dam clearance and a forward-facing flange on top of the rear spoiler(Roanoke Times) UPDATE: NASCAR made one slight aerodynamic change for the Ford Taurus in preparation for the Daytona 500 – a change the 20 Ford teams who arrived Monday for the manufacturer’s test implemented right away. Each Ford team needed to slightly alter its roof spoiler. The original strip for all car makes was set at 1 and 3/8ths of an inch across the full width of the roof, but the curved shape of the Taurus’ roof created more square inches of spoiler area compared to the flatter-roofed Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Ford officials were pleased with the change, saying the move would make the Taurus more in line with other makes as far as the amount of drag the car creates on the superspeedways of Daytona and Talladega(That’s Racin’). As for the race? I guess we’ll see after testing(1-8-2001)
