The elaborate and expensive testing for three national and two regional racing series for the 2009 season have been suspended. Included within the suspension fields are the Nationwide Series, the Camping World Truck Series, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the Camping World East and West Touring Series.
Mike Helton, NASCAR president, announced the decision after several months’ worth of discussion with teams regarding testing and the sharp and continuing economic downturn. According to Helton, the industry could save tens of millions of dollars.
The specifics of the plan have yet to be worked out, but Helton did reveal that Goodyear would be allowed to continue to conduct track-specific and tire-specific tests. Test teams will be rotated during the season and new drivers may be provided with alternative methods for track time and weekend schedules may be expanded to allow teams to perform data acquisition. There is a lot of maybe and might.
The suspension will likely be in effect for at least a year and the sanctioning body will review the test rules annually. Unauthorized tests may be detected by chips burned into tires and contracts with the tracks which stipulate that they must abide by the new rules.
This suspension is a result of weeks of discussion between stakeholders, team owners, sponsors and tracks. Reactions have been mixed, but most compliment NASCAR for responding quickly.
via Motorsport