A one-inch restrictor plate is being used for this week’s test, and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Director John Darby said a final decision on plate size has yet to be made. “We’re working really hard to stay with the one-inch plate, he said. Overall speeds will ultimately make the decision.” A total of 52 series teams are testing on Talladega’s high-banked, 2.66-mile tri-oval. It’s the sixth of seven NASCAR-scheduled series tests in 2007 and the third dedicated to the Car of Tomorrow (previous tests for the new car took place at Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway). Jason Keller is tesing the #98 Dodge for Gilltett Evernham Motorsports Sam Hornish Jr. is testing the #06 for Penske Racing Jacques Villeneuve is testing the #27 Toyota for Bill Davis Racing. Sterling Marling is testing the #09 for Phoenix Racing.(9-10-2007) AND In the day’s only incident, #41-Reed Sorenson hit the wall in turns 1 and 2 with less than five minutes remaining the day’s final session. Sorenson was not injured although his car sustained right-side damage. While teams tested with a restrictor plate that had 1-inch holes Monday (up from the 7/8th-inch plate used here earlier this year), series director John Darby said it’s likely that teams will begin Tuesday’s morning test session with a smaller plate. “The wing combination is different from what we tested with last October and earlier this year,” he said. “And, we’ve gone from zero degrees to 10 degrees on the wing angle. Basically, that makes the rear of the car a little more efficient and enabled us to go up to a 1-inch restrictor plate. Today we left the plate alone and went to a taller wicker [on the rear wing]. Tomorrow, we may come down a little on the wicker and go a little smaller on the plate to see if it helps. One of the comments we’ve heard is that the engines are running through the powerband too quickly, so that should help a little and take some of the ‘buffeting’ of the car away.”(SceneDaily.com)(9-11-2007)
