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NASCAR Adds Cooling Measure For Michigan
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will have at least one slight change in their entries for this weekend's Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway.
On Wednesday, the sanctioning body issued a bulletin that, among other things, calls for the installation of an additional NACA duct to be mounted in the right-side window.
Such ducts, used for cooling purposes, are currently installed in other window areas, and allow for airflow inside the car.
The change was made in reaction to high heat build up inside the car generated by the high drag package when it debuted at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month. The same package is scheduled to be used this weekend at MIS.
The platform includes a nine-inch spoiler with a one-inch wicker bill; a two-inch leading edge on the splitter, a 43-inch splitter extension panel (often called the radiator pan) and a rear fascia extension panel similar to those currently used for superspeedway events.
Excessive heat build up created by the package is a concern for the toll it can take on the drivers as well as the cars according to 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski.
"I would not be surprised to see a lot of car failures this weekend, specific to heat relation as it pertains to the aero package and its kind of cause and effects," he said during a national teleconference Tuesday.
"And inside the car I would not be surprised to see a lot of hot and worn out drivers after the race. We all know we’re in for a handful of the race."
Keselowski said the new package is expected to create more drafting, and that time lined up nose to tail will lessen the amount of air going over and around the car.
"And the speeds at Michigan are higher than they are at Indianapolis, which means the parts, specifically the drivetrain are going to be even hotter," he said. "I know the team is very, very concerned about the drivetrain, everything from the engine all the way back to the axles because they're really not made for these temperatures."
Following the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Indy, at least three drivers received treatment for heat-related issues following the event, including race winner Kyle Busch.
Wednesday’s bulletin also states that one additional NACA duct may be used to provide air to the engine control unit (ECU).
On Wednesday, the sanctioning body issued a bulletin that, among other things, calls for the installation of an additional NACA duct to be mounted in the right-side window.
Such ducts, used for cooling purposes, are currently installed in other window areas, and allow for airflow inside the car.
The change was made in reaction to high heat build up inside the car generated by the high drag package when it debuted at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month. The same package is scheduled to be used this weekend at MIS.
The platform includes a nine-inch spoiler with a one-inch wicker bill; a two-inch leading edge on the splitter, a 43-inch splitter extension panel (often called the radiator pan) and a rear fascia extension panel similar to those currently used for superspeedway events.
Excessive heat build up created by the package is a concern for the toll it can take on the drivers as well as the cars according to 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski.
"I would not be surprised to see a lot of car failures this weekend, specific to heat relation as it pertains to the aero package and its kind of cause and effects," he said during a national teleconference Tuesday.
"And inside the car I would not be surprised to see a lot of hot and worn out drivers after the race. We all know we’re in for a handful of the race."
Keselowski said the new package is expected to create more drafting, and that time lined up nose to tail will lessen the amount of air going over and around the car.
"And the speeds at Michigan are higher than they are at Indianapolis, which means the parts, specifically the drivetrain are going to be even hotter," he said. "I know the team is very, very concerned about the drivetrain, everything from the engine all the way back to the axles because they're really not made for these temperatures."
Following the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Indy, at least three drivers received treatment for heat-related issues following the event, including race winner Kyle Busch.
Wednesday’s bulletin also states that one additional NACA duct may be used to provide air to the engine control unit (ECU).
