Aero & Skew Rules for the Chase and for 2017

[LewTheShoe]

The so-called "low-low downforce" rules package used for Michigan I and Kentucky is generally thought to be a tryout of the base case 2017 package. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this.

< Should this package be used as the base case next year?

< What about the Chase this year? Should the "low-low" be used?

< There has been talk about one more (non-Chase) test, maybe at Michigan II. Good idea or bad idea?

Lee Spencer article:
NASCAR will meet with team representatives on Wednesday to review the latest experience with the proposed 2017 configuration for the Cup Series to determine what, if any, changes need to be made and if the sport needs to take another run with the car prior to next season.

While NASCAR has said repeatedly there will be no changes to the current 2016 rules package for the Chase, the possibility of running the lower downforce package at Michigan Speedway next month is not completely off the table.

 

[oldgoat]

So far I've liked the low downforce. Seems to put more in the drivers hands on how to drive a less than perfect car. I do think that Nascar needs to stop jacking with the different packages during the year though.

 

[RacerrecaR]

< Should this package be used as the base case next year?
No - a package with even less downforce and extra horsepower should be used next year.

< What about the Chase this year? Should the "low-low" be used?
Yes - the rest of the races this year (including the Chase) should use this package.

< There has been talk about one more (non-Chase) test, maybe at Michigan II. Good idea or bad idea?
Great idea. This package and an even lower downforce package should ideally be tested at every track type (short, intermediate, superspeedway, road course) as soon as possible.

 

[Michfan]

It should definitely be used for the chase, however, last year NASCAR wouldn't use the 2016 package for the chase because it wouldn't be fair. We all know NASCAR will be consistent this year.

 

[Acs]

< Should this package be used as the base case next year?
Not without some tweaks. What I saw last Saturday was that clean air was still king and side force played an even bigger role than usual. Maybe the smaller spoiler had something to do with that, maybe not. The fact remains that the two "low-low" races were still not great all things considered and the race rating spell that out. I think taking away the sideforce needs to be a bigger priority than cutting downforce at this point. Oh and more horsepower.

< What about the Chase this year? Should the "low-low" be used?
Nope. Keep it consistent. The 2016 rules package is the package for all of 2016 and that includes the chase. You don't change the rules of the game mid-way through the season at the most crucial time.

< There has been talk about one more (non-Chase) test, maybe at Michigan II. Good idea or bad idea?
Good idea, but don't test it at Michigan again. Go to a different track like Bristol or Darlington and use Michigan II as a comparison with Michigan I.

 

[aunty dive]

Clean air will always be king at high race speeds.

There is no way around that.

 

[LewTheShoe]

I may be in the minority, but I thought Kentucky was a great race for a repave, and I was totally fascinated from green flag to checkers. The degree of difficulty was awesome. And I also liked Michigan I. I favor the "low-low" for next year's base plan.

I think the Chase should use the 2016 base configuration, as a matter of fairness and economy. However, I would silently smile (on the inside of course) if Nascar announced that Charlotte or Kansas would use the "low-low."

I see Acs's point about Michigan II using the base 2016 rules so it can be compared to Michigan I which tested the "low-low" rules. So how about Pocono II? Probably too late now...?

 

[4tires17gals]

I think horsepower is more important than aero and skew. A car is easier to handle at 130 than 180 on a 1.5 The ARCA cars of the 1990s looked fine on 1.5s with 160 mph.

 

[dpkimmel2001]

I think that it's great that they are testing this package for next year. I think adding it to the Chase this year would be a huge mistake. Too many unknowns. Goodyear did tire testing ahead of time to try to get ready for the tracks that ran it this season. Little time to test/develop tires for those tracks in the Chase this season.