NASCAR announced on Tuesday major changes to the rules package for Sprint Cup Series teams in 2015, including a ban on private team testing and reduction of horsepower.
NASCAR is eliminating team-facilitated private testing for next year; however, teams will be invited to participate in NASCAR/Goodyear tire tests. The sanctioning body also noted that January testing at Daytona International Speedway prior to the Daytona 500 -- known as "Preseason Thunder" -- will not take place next year.
Among the biggest rule modifications for the Sprint Cup race package next season is reduction of horsepower from 850 to 725 through a tapered spacer, an engine part used in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.
Other significant changes to the Sprint Cup race package are:
- Roller valve lifters to replace flat valve lifter.
- Lower rear differential gear ratios targeting 9,000 RPM.
- Rear spoiler adjustments to 6 inches high (2014 height: 8 inches).
- Optional driver adjustable track bar.
- 38-inch wider radiator pan.
- Minimum vehicle weight drops 50 lbs. via ballast reduction (2014 weight: 3,300 lbs. without driver).
NASCAR also announced that group qualifying will be used for the first time in determining the front row for the Daytona 500. The group qualifying format was introduced to all three of its national series at the start of this season, but qualifying (time trials) for the Daytona 500 had included the traditional format of single-car runs. The remainder of the starting lineup for that race was decided by the twin-qualifying events. The twin-qualifiers at Daytona will remain.
Furthermore, Sprint Cup teams will use rain tires on road courses (Sonoma and Watkins Glen) should conditions warrant the use of them. It will be similar to the tire rules presently in place for the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.
"We're very pleased with the rules package and what it will do for our racing," NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer Steve O'Donnell said. "We're confident it will continue to generate great racing, along with continuous safety improvements.
"The work alongside our industry has been unprecedented. We've had great dialogue with our drivers and teams, our manufacturers and Goodyear, allowing us to build greater efficiencies into the 2015 rules package. We've met our goal of delivering rules to teams with time to prepare for next season, and we're seeing the benefits of an updated process for developing our rules paying dividends. It will only continue to improve."
NASCAR has spent more than a year testing and developing as well as collaborating with teams, manufacturers (Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota), Goodyear and other stakeholders in the sport to develop its rules package for next season.
"This race package represents a lot of hard work by NASCAR, the race teams, the drivers, our manufacturer partners and Goodyear," NASCAR senior vice president of innovation and racing development Gene Stefanyshyn said. "We've remained committed to constantly looking at our racing, and the work that has been done has been aimed at getting a rules package delivered to the race teams as early as possible."
Next year's rule package also includes new officiating processes, including data log and capture system for pre-race inspections and automated pit road officiating at races events. The newly approved parts for Sprint Cup cars feature revised brake calipers. An electronic rule book and new parts approval methods are among the updated business processes.
[SportsNetwork.com]
