Eight teams fielding Chevrolets and Dodges tentatively plan to attend the “car-of-tomorrow” (COT) test Tuesday and Wednesday at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The two-day test will be the first for many of the teams with cars built under revised specifications after NASCAR recently took cars to the wind tunnel to examine the proposed noses and tails developed by each manufacturer. Neither Ford nor Toyota will be represented by cars on the track. Those teams planning to test are Richard Childress Racing (#31-Jeff Burton), Hendrick Motorsports (#25-Brian Vickers), Evernham Motorsports (#10-Scott Riggs), Chip Ganassi Racing (#42-Casey Mears), Joe Gibbs Racing (#11-Denny Hamlin with #18-J.J. Yeley and #20-Tony Stewart also possibly getting in the car), MB2 Motorsports (#01-Joe Nemechek), Dale Earnhardt Inc. (one car with #1-Martin Truex Jr. and #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr.) and Penske Racing South (#12-Ryan Newman). NASCAR plans to phase in the car of tomorrow over three years, beginning in 2007 at mostly short tracks and road courses. The 1.5-mile tracks, such as the one near Charlotte, are not scheduled to have the cars race there until 2009. NASCAR has left the door open for 2008 if teams adjust quicker to the new cars than anticipated.(SceneDaily.com)(5-26-2006)
UPDATE: NASCAR is considering a substantial aerodynamic overhaul to the rear end of its Car of Tomorrow, two months after it gave teams what were supposed to be final specifications for the car, which will be phased in over three seasons, starting in 2007. The end result, according to several team officials who spoke under condition of anonymity, is that months of work and millions of dollars of expenditures could essentially be wasted because the data gathered so far will be worthless if the aerodynamic configuration of the car changes significantly. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp told SPEEDTV.com Saturday that NASCAR is looking at cutting up to six inches of the rear end of the COT design, which Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton confirmed. Were talking about it, said Pemberton. The manufacturers are looking at some different things and we are, too. With running the wing, its given us a lot more options of what we can do with the body from some of the things that wed worked on early on when it was just a spoiler. Were looking at all that.(Speed Channel)(5-28-2006)
