DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 18, 2014) – Just one day after Jeff Gordon grabbed the checkered flag in the Pure Michigan 400, NASCAR and teams were back testing on the two-mile Michigan International Speedway, gathering crucial data for the development of the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rules package. Six different configurations were evaluated throughout the test. “Our main goal is to harvest data today to help refine the 2015 package,” said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president of innovation and racing development. “We are listening to our fans, they have said they like a lot of passing, side-by-side racing and lead changes. That is what we are aiming to accomplish with these tests.” Throughout today’s test, focus was on aerodynamics and power optimization. “We learned a lot today and were able to test a lot of our ideas,” Stefanyshyn said. “The race teams have shared their goals of having the new rules package in September, so that is one of the reasons we are here during the season at Michigan International Speedway working on our 2015 package.” Ten teams were onsite throughout the day running through all six configurations. “We are looking at all the different options today and I am glad we are doing it,” said Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. “It is neat that NASCAR has stepped up and is trying to find ways to improve.” More than 160 laps were turned at Michigan by each team. Data will be taken back to the Research and Development Center in Concord, North Carolina to be analyzed and modeled as NASCAR finalizes its 2015 rules package for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. source – NASCAR communications
