NASCAR WCUP: Paul Andrews Explains Why Qualifying is Faster in 1999

8 June 1999

Pole Speeds Have Increased 2.36 mph in 1999; New Spoiler, Valence Rules Cited

When the NASCAR Winston Cup Series returns to Michigan Speedway this weekend, race fans probably won't be able to notice the rule changes initiated by NASCAR since its last visit to the two-mile oval. NASCAR increased the size of the front valence and rear spoiler by 1.5 inches on each car in 1999. So far it's meant more competition and faster speeds, much faster speeds. Pole speeds at every non-superspeedway race have climbed 2.36 mph in 1999.

Pole Speeds    1999         1998   MPH
Difference

Rockingham     157.241 156.361 +0.880 
Las Vegas 170.643 168.224 +2.419 
Atlanta 194.957 192.956 +2.001 
Darlington 173.167 168.665 +4.502 
Texas 190.154 185.906 +4.248 
Bristol 125.142 124.275 +0.867 
Martinsville   95.275   93.175 +2.100 
Richmond 126.499 125.558 +0.941 
Charlotte 185.230 182.976 +2.254 
Dover 159.320 155.898 +3.422

* Daytona and Talladega are superspeedways and California qualifying this year was rained out.

Average Pole Speed Increase Over 1998 = 2.36 Mph

Paul Andrews, Crew Chief of Steve Park's #1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo:

"NASCAR gave us more spoiler and more valence for the last race last year at Atlanta and allowed us to keep those rules at the beginning of the year. More valence and spoiler means more downforce, which means faster corner speeds. It's that simple. We aren't going any faster in the straight-a-ways.

Our increases are all in the corners. That average difference is going to go up even more. When we get to tracks like Michigan, Pocono, and New Hampshire you should really see speeds jump over last year. We could be up near 185 mph at Michigan. That's fast. Is it too fast? I don't think so. I wouldn't want to be going much faster, but the drivers seem more comfortable going faster with the new rules than they would be going slower with the old rules. I think drivers like the new rules because the cars are more fun to drive. The drivers aren't on the ragged edge in the corners like they were last year. That's why we see more side-by-side racing. It might not seem a lot, but that extra 1.5 inches on both the spoiler and valence means a lot to our Pennzoil car. The valence gives you more front down force and the spoiler gives you more rear down force. Together they give you a lot more down force. It made us alter our car setups. We aren't running dramatically different setups this year, but they are different."

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