NASCAR ended the final day of its test at Richmond Raceway with a more positive vibe after driver feedback about different tire compounds, which has prompted plans for another test in the near future.
The six Cup Series drivers on hand once again did multiple pack runs with inverts, not only testing tires for Goodyear but a different aero package. After not seeing or feeling what was hoped for with the lift splitter on Monday, the rear diffuser was removed from the Next Gen car, two inches were added to the spoiler (to make it four inches tall), and on the lift splitter, an extension was added to the downturn part to exaggerate its effect.
Testing of NASCAR's up/down splitter is underway at @RichmondRaceway. pic.twitter.com/nC8IkSoWwq
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 31, 2023
“I thought visually it was very good; we were pretty happy with how that looked,” Dr. Eric Jacuzzi, NASCAR vice president of vehicle performance, said. “(We) went to the second set of tires, which had a little thicker thread on them, so a lot more grip in those. Drivers were really positive about that, said it laid down a lot of rubber, they could move around a lot behind each other.
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“It was a pretty good, pretty positive outcome. We got some positive comments that the diffuser not being there made the car a little more forgiving on corner entry. It felt like they could slide around a little more and move around. We were pretty happy with that, for sure.”
Most of Tuesday was spent testing tires, which is what the drivers felt made the most difference. Even with the change in the aero package, it didn’t appear to make a significant difference in feel from what drivers are used to running.
“They were pretty unanimously positive with that (being the right direction on tires),” Jacuzzi said. “Just that even on warmup laps they could feel the added grip and really felt like they could move around and they were even commenting that rubber was getting put down on the short (runs). So, all that was a positive.
“They felt it was a little more forgiving. They really liked it. Still need to work on continuing to get more fall-off where we can and working on that. So that part of it we need to work on for sure, but it was definitely positive.”
Take a look at the new splitter compared to the version in use today. pic.twitter.com/yrz0fewTlH
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 31, 2023
NASCAR will run the package featuring the new splitter, no diffuser and taller spoiler, at the Indianapolis oval in two weeks, tacking it onto the end of a Goodyear tire test at the track. The test will be held after NASCAR runs on the road course the weekend of Aug. 12-13.
Goodyear tire tests use one car from each manufacturer. Those scheduled to participate at the Indianapolis test are Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 54 team (Toyota), the No. 48 team from Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet), and Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 14 team (Ford).
“Indy is obviously a track with a narrow racing groove,” Jacuzzi said. “But the main thing is coming out of here, the drivers said, hey, really feeling the tire a lot (and) the aero is a small part of the cornering, I guess, powering the car. So, going to a place like Indy where the speed is much higher, should give us a really good read on whether that’s an improvement. It’s another opportunity to evaluate it in that environment.”
However, despite the package being tested on a large oval at Indianapolis, Jacuzzi said the focus remains working on it for the 2024 short track and road course schedule.
“I think we would definitely start on the short track and road course and discuss with the industry and drivers and say, hey, what makes sense for us?” he said. “Places like Pocono, too, it’s tough to pass there. If we can make it better, should we … all those things. Definitely, more discussion needs to be had before we do that.”