NASCAR has held a meeting with the crew chiefs of the Cup cars at New Hampshire. In this meeting testing was discussed.
According to John Darby, NASCAR wants the teams to give NASCAR feedback on how they feel about the current testing policy. And what changes they would like to see.
Darby went so far to say that NASCAR was even considering a "wide-open" testing policy.
“NASCAR is the policy maker, but if there’s one thing that’s really reliant on the teams’ input, it’s what we test, how many times we test and where we test,” Darby said. “In the past, it’s just been a matter of ‘Here, select your race tracks and let’s go.’
“This year, I felt it was time that we just sat down with everybody and said, ‘Look, we’re open to whatever suggestions you have, from leaving our testing policy exactly like it was in ’08 all the way to what I’m going to call wide-open testing: No limits, any week, any track, any time, as many times as you want to go.’ And we’re prepared for either way.”
Darby said that there was a "gasp of air" in the room when he revealed the proposal. The teams feared that they would have to suddenly test 38 weeks per year.
But that is not what NASCAR meant. "Wide-Open Testings" means simply that the Cup teams could test any week at any NASCAR track. And NASCAR will not penalize them.
John Darby even said that Goodyear could provide the tires needed for these test sessions. (Goodyear has got to get rid of all those bad tires they produced earlier this season somehow.)
But one thing Darby insisted on was that this new policy had nothing to do with the new car and the struggles that the teams are having with it.
“This piece, honest to God, doesn’t have any relevance to the new car,” he said. “This is something we would have headed toward regardless. Not that what we’re doing today is broken, but testing should be at the needs of the competitors in the garage, and the only way we know what best suits them is ask them.”
But for the veteran fan of NASCAR, that statement just doesn't hold water. In the past when the crew chiefs wanted an "wide open" testing policy. NASCAR rebuffed it. Now all of a sudden, NASCAR on its own is offering a "wide open" testing policy. Something just doesn't sound right to my ears.
John Darby if you think I believe that this possible change to open testing has nothing to do with the struggles and complaints about the new car, you must think everyone who knows anything about NASCAR is a complete and utter ####.
NASCAR has never been open to open testing before. But now that they have this new car and the drivers, crews and owners have been complaining about it, you are open to the idea.
This has all to do with the new car. NASCAR wants the owners, drivers and teams to quit complaining about this car. So the only way that they figure they can do it, is open up testing.
NASCAR wants to prove to everyone that they were right about this car. And the only way to make everyone comfortable with this car is to test them. To test them everywhere, anytime and often.
So crew chiefs get your testing schedules ready. Be sure you have a test driver that is willing to test anywhere and anytime. Because we all know, once NASCAR opens up testing. Those test haulers will be hitting the roads. There will be fewer days home with the families. But the testing of the new car will help you prove NASCAR was right about this new car.
And after all isn't that what is important? NASCAR proving that they are right!?
TSFan- You hit the nail on the head...as soon as I can get to it, the convo I had with Pat Tryson, he basically said that NASCAR is diggin in and not really listening to the teams about the problems with the COT because NASCAR doesnt want to admit they are wrong...ever. period.
Will be interesting to see if this policy really does "help" all the teams. Or just the Super teams as Cuda stated above. After all it does take money to test. And that is something that many of the amaller teams struggle with.
Te$t, Te$t, and more money $pent. Yes the money teams will get more out of this. The little guy in turn will become smaller yet. I hope the dont go to open. Maybe a little more but not unlimited. That will kill small teams...
If they go to unlimited testing they will wind up with 12 - 15 multi-car teams. The small guys will fall by the wayside or get swallowed up by the big guys with all the money.
Guess who gets the $$$$ from the track's fee for the test? And the tire manufacturer gets $$$ from tire sales.
On the other hand, you may see a few drivers getting extra gigs as test drivers (paging Nationwide regulars, young guns and former Cup drivers who are rideless - clear your calendars).
photogr it is very odd that NASCAR wants this. The only possible reason for this is to allow the power house teams to get stronger and the smaller teams to fall further behind.
That was the reason NASCAR went to a limited test policy. To help the small teams with costs.
And a wide open policy will only hurt them not help.
Texacudaguy you are right. That is the only reason. Maybe Mr. Hendrick has signed Stewart to drive the 5 car next year. And he wants to make sure that his drivers are the best.
So he has gotten into NASCAR's ear and said "Hey, we need to test at every track. We need an wide open test policy. So we can take over the domination we have had in the past."
klvalus, I will be very interested in reading about that convo. Pat Tryson has been in this business long enough that he knows first hand about how stubborn NASCAR can be about not listening to the teams.
NASCAR knows they hold all the cards. They are the only game in town. And if you want to play on their tracks you have to play by their rules. Or you can run on the lower tiers of racing.
Gerrel like Cuda said, this type of policy only benefits the SuperTeams.
The reason NASCAR changed their testing policy a few years back was because the SuperTeams had 3-5 teams. And each of those teams had 7 test dates. So for a team that had 5 teams that gave them 35 test dates. Compared to the smaller one-two car teams who had a maximum of 14 test dates.
That gave teams like Roush 21 test dates that the smaller teams did not have.
If NASCAR really wanted to be fair to all the teams about testing. And they wanted an wide open test policy. Have the teams go up one day earlier to the tracks and do a test date for that week.
Instead of having the teams show up on Friday. Open the track on Thursday to them and let them have a day of testing before they qualify.
This would allow the teams to be on equal footing all across the board.
There would a smaller expense to the teams. Since they are going the track that weekend anyway. Just go a day earlier. Saves time and money in the long run.
elad, I think that we are already seeing that transition.
All of your top Cup teams already have or help satellite teams. Through selling them engines, providing chassis or whatever they need.
NASCAR says it doesn't want to have super teams. But they already do. They just mask it by having others start the teams. And the top manufacturer guy in each division helps the satellite teams.
Pretty disappointing that after NASCAR claimed their stated goal was to save teams money in the long run by designing the COT, now looks to back off that point by having them blow budgets for track testing.
The truth is - NASCAR doesn't really know what they want. Having realized FINALLY that they are not the NFL with the ability to thrive during any economically tight market; they see erosion in certain areas and now come back and start changing their mission statement.
Get back to making this a spectator sport that is affordable and stop worrying about trying to be a global sport - it will never happen.
moseby you are right, NASCAR doesn't know what they want. But the one thing that they do know for sure is that they want to get as much money from the teams, sponsors and fans as they can.
With the limited testing schedule, NASCAR was not collecting all the fees that they were collecting. So they made it with souvenior sales, ticket sales, etc.
But now that the economy is taking a hit, the fans are keeping more and more of their money. So they have to look elsewhere to recoup those loses. And they place that they are going to look is at the teams.
If you want to test fine. Test on our tracks. As much as you want. Just so long as you pay the track fees. And I would not be a bit surprised if those fees don't double for the teams by the time all is said and done.
