aero on restrictor plate tracks

S

smack500

Guest
Didnt jr get damage on his front and still almost win the race, also the last race he had tape all over his front and won the race. I love hearing over and over that aero means so much on these tracks.
 
So I ask how does someone win or lead a restrictor plate track with front end damage???
 
His crew did a pretty good job fixing it, but I didn't expect a 2nd place finish.
 
I didnt watch barely any of the race today, but I remember in the spring race greg biffle had front end damage and was in the front for awhile but couldnt get the lead. The anouncers said you just cant lead here with damage on your front. Then jr won the race and today he finishes 2nd again with front end damage.
 
I was at the 500 last year, when Junior had severe damage and still raced back up to the front.

He commented then, that all the time in the wind tunnel didn't mean chit, because the car could still run well in the draft. Now, out of the draft, it was a different story.

You saw today, that even with the hole in the front, in the draft the car ran well. While he was out of the draft, it wouldn't run down the straight with any speed.

When you have someone in front, breaking the air, even a damaged car can keep up.
 
Originally posted by TexasRaceLady@Sep 28 2003, 09:35 PM
When you have someone in front, breaking the air, even a damaged car can keep up.
Click to expand...
Yes but I remember him leading during the spring race. Also again I remember him breaking away a little from the pack during that race alot more then anyone else could.
 
In the spring race, the damage was down low, on the valence. The crew used a special wide, extra-sticky tape all the way across to seal off the hole.

Today's damage was in the nose --- couldn't seal that off because the engine needs the air.
 
still there suppose to be so sensitive here, the anouncers keep talking about it when someone gets front end damage like you have lost the race when anything happens to that front. Maybe the anouncers egxagerating has gotin to me.

Dont mean to be a pain but I have one more question about this subject. Has anyone else won with any damage on the front end of there car since they started using restrictor plates?
 
yep he was fine in the draft but could'nt lead because of the damage
 
But wasnt this past daytona a gas race, not the usuall plate race. I think I missed this race though.
 
Thought it was.....I posted my message before I finished it.

My point is that Biffle's car was damaged at Daytona and not only did he lead, he won........
 
i don't think his car was damaged in the night race but I could be wrong I was mainly watching jr's in-car cam
 
There were several cars in front of him that lost due to gas milege though, and also I think the competitor that was chasing him had fuel problems. But I also get your point.
 
I believe that with the new templates and guidelines to adhere to that in some cases, certain damage to the cars front end may actually help the car. I don't remember what race but a few years ago I believe it was Jeff Burton had damage to the nose & it helped the cars performance. He had a mid pack car & ended up with a contender after the damage.
 
I thought the patch they put on jr's car was great.

The size and deflective angle looked to me to be MORE effective at front downforce than the typical shape of a Monte nose. Remeber, the smoother and/or flatter the surface the faster air can move across it.
 
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