NASCAR WCUP: Ford responds to NASCAR rules changes
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
March 23, 2001NASCAR informed Ford Racing today that there will be some rules changes for the upcoming Talladega 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 22. First, the Taurus will have its rear spoiler shortened from 59 inches to 57 inches, which is the same width currently run by Chevrolet teams. Both Pontiac and Dodge will continue to run a 59-inch rear spoiler. Second, the Dodge roof strip has been increased from what it was at Daytona and is the same that Ford ran at Talladega in the fall before having it modified during the off-season.
GREG SPECHT, North American Operations Manager for Ford Racing Technology --
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS RULES CHANGE? "I gladly accept the inches off of our spoiler, because I think we're going to be more competitive with the Chevrolet and the Pontiac. Now we'll just have to race and see what happens. Unfortunately, I don't think it's enough to take away the advantage that the Dodge has, but it will even us up with the rest of the cars. The Dodges were 20 or 30 horsepower better than we were. This change will move us in the right direction, maybe cutting half of their advantage. At the plate tracks we were at a disadvantage compared to everybody. Taking two inches off of our spoiler brings us even with the Chevy and the Pontiac, but I'm not convinced that the roof spoiler change brings Dodge back to the other three makes."
HAS NASCAR SAID ANYTHING ABOUT A POTENTIAL RULES CHANGE FOR FORD ON THE NON-RESTRICTOR PLATE TRACKS? "I was told by Gary Nelson that there will not be a rules change for Bristol this weekend. We've been told that for sure, but they haven't ruled out considering that for the future. In light of the fact that we won the last race at Darlington, they didn't feel we warranted any help. I was quick to point out that we basically won that race in the pits. The 88 team pulled off some heroic pit stops, most notably the last one that got Jarrett up front. That was the only way he was going to win that race because when you lead and are in clean air, the car works much better and he was able to stay out in front and make it happen. If his pit crew hadn't gotten him out in front, I'm sure we would not have won the race. Also, there was another car that was very good that did not finish the race and that was the 24 car. They blew a head gasket that took them out of the race, but that was a very, very good car and it might have been a different story if that had not happened. We still think we need to get our nose kicked out, just like Chevrolet did last year, so we can better balance our car."
ROBERT YATES, Car Owner --88 and 28 Ford Tauruses -- HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS CHANGE? "There's been a lot of research and a lot of numbers put together and that's what the numbers tell you to do, but you also have to look at Talladega and Daytona. You can't just give a team that doesn't work hard something, but we had always performed well on the superspeedways. When they made those Daytona and Talladega rules last year, that just took us out of the picture. We were not in the race at Talladega or Daytona. We were not even in the lottery. I mean, you've got to be able to lead races to win races, so this rules change sounds good. We needed that. Anything less than that would still have us somewhat handicapped. We've still got to work hard, but that at least gives us a shot to run good."
EVEN THOUGH YOU WON THE LAST RACE AT DARLINGTON, DO YOU STILL FEEL THE TAURUS NEEDS HELP ON INTERMEDIATE TRACKS? "We're in business. Our sponsors got to see a win by having the best pit stop and we really worked hard and hung ourselves out. We cried and complained, but we have to get our cars in the winner's circle every now and then. I think everybody deserves to win once in a while, but you've got to have a chance. I still think we definitely need that inch-and-a-half to two inches on the nose. We need some real estate there. We've asked for two inches, but we'll take anything they give us."
DOES WINNING ON SUNDAY HURT THAT CAUSE? "I told them if there wasn't a Ford in the top five or if Ford doesn't lead the race, that maybe they'd see we needed something. Well, there were three Fords in the top five. I thought the 24 car was gonna be the class of the field, but he had problems so that probably made them delay any decision for a few days. The biggest thing I would like to see NASCAR do is just pay attention to the races and let every manufacturer have a shot at it. We'll get our rewards if we work hard."
FRANK STODDARD, Crew Chief --99-- Citgo SUPERGARD Taurus -- WHAT'S YOUR INITIAL IMPRESSION OF THIS RULES CHANGE? "I think it's great. In my estimation, NASCAR has continued to do a great job of looking at the parity in the sport. I know right now they're evaluating wind tunnel data from the downforce cars, but it's a tough box that we put them in. When you give somebody a little bit, they make it even better and I think that's the case with the Dodge. NASCAR gave them a box to be in and it turned out to be a little bit better, but you've got to give NASCAR credit. They didn't know going in where the Dodge was going to be, but they've evaluated everything through some wind tunnel research and they're doing no different today than what they've done in the past. When they see an imbalance through data on the race track and data in the wind tunnel, they come back and, in their estimation, try to make the racing a little bit closer. I think it's outstanding that NASCAR continues to show that they're going to do their utmost to make every manufacturer feel that they're being treated fairly."
WHAT WILL THAT TWO INCH DIFFERENCE DO FOR FORD TEAMS? "I believe you won't see as much dominance by the Dodges because they were able to just pull out and pass people at will. I don't even know that the roof strip will be enough of an increase, but, again, NASCAR is in a situation where they have to look at it and evaluate it over time. They'll look at Talladega and see how the results go and, if they have to make more of an adjustment, I'm sure that will be forthcoming. For the time being, it's obviously gonna make things a little bit closer. We were at a grave disadvantage to the Dodges in Daytona. You could see that in qualifying and you could see it in any race practices that you watched. NASCAR is not blind either. They were able to see the same thing and they're going to make an adjustment. I think it'll make us a little more racier and maybe get us to where you'll have a few Fords in the top 10. I think we only had two in the top 20 at Daytona, so maybe it'll be closer to four or five Fords in the top 20, which is about how it ought to be, and we'll go on down the road."
Text provided by Greg Shea
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit
The Racing Photo Museum and the
Visions of Speed Art Gallery.