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NASCAR WCUP: Taurus 2000 Completes On-Track and Wind Tunnel Testing

3 October 1999

Mark Martin takes the Taurus 2K through its first run at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The 2000 race Taurus made its on-track testing debut Tuesday afternoon at the Atlanta Motor Speedway with driver Mark Martin. After approximately 90 minutes, the on-track test was concluded and the car was taken to the wind tunnel in Marietta, Ga., where tests were conducted by NASCAR officials Wednesday morning. Greg Specht, Ford Racing Technology operations manager for North America, was present for both tests and provided his reaction.

GREG SPECHT, Ford Racing Technology Operations Manager for North America -- "I feel things went as well as could be expected. NASCAR is taking all of the wind tunnel results and they're going to go back and study the numbers and make sure everything looks good."

HOW DID THE TEST GO LAST NIGHT AT THE TRACK? "Mark did a great job. He went out and turned the lap times NASCAR expected him to, so that really went smooth. The weather also cooperated, which was another stroke of good luck."

DO YOU HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS? "I'm satisfied that we did everything appropriately and I wouldn't do anything differently. I have no regrets."

MARK MARTIN --6-- Valvoline/Cummins Taurus -- "The test went fine. I couldn't really tell any difference in the car. It wasn't much of a test, we only ran about 15 laps until NASCAR saw what they wanted to see. We will find out more when we place the Taurus in competition. Until then it is hard to compare it to anything."

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