It's Day 2 of Multi-Car 2013 Model Test - JPM "Happily Surprised" with New Lightweight Vehicle

Oct 9, 10:52 PM EDT

NASCAR 1st multicar test with '13 cars, new aero

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- NASCAR is having its first multicar test with the 2013 Sprint Cup models and new aero package.

The two-day test at Texas started Tuesday, with 100 pounds removed off the right side and 60 pounds off the left side of the cars. It is also part of a test with Goodyear tires built specifically for the new cars to optimize grip.

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition, says the cars were built to get more mechanical grip and reduce the aero dependency.

Juan Pablo Montoya was "happily surprised" with the reduced downforce. He says the car slid around a little bit, but wasn't unpredictable and didn't do anything strange.

The new Cup cars for Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota look more like their passenger car counterparts.

--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM

and, more coverage of the the two-day test of 2013 models:

New Sprint Cup Cars Hit The Track At Texas Motor Speedway
Info Manager | , RacinToday.com Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Juan Pablo Montoya tested a camouflaged 2013 Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway on Tuesday.

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup cars took to the track again on Tuesday and Wednesday and they continue to get good reviews from the drivers.

This weeks tests are being held at Texas Motor Speedway. Doing the driving are Greg Biffle, Kyle Busch, Paul Menard and Juan Pablo Montoya, who tested Goodyear Eagles on the next generation cars that debut next season.

In addition to new looks, the 2013 cars will feature different specifications as weight will be removed and shifted.

Moving into 2013 weve worked hand in hand with Goodyear and their engineers to get a plan together to build tires specifically for this new race car and optimize the grip, said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. We have built this car with the mindset that we are going after more of a mechanical grip and reduce some of the aero dependencies of the car for 2013. This test at Texas is actually our very first test with multiple cars with the new aero package.

Future tests at Phoenix International Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 23-24 and Nov. 6-7, respectively.

The 1.5-mile track at Texas provided the first 1.5-mile proving ground for the new Chevrolet SS, Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry models.

I think its definitely headed in the right direction, 100 percent, Biffle said. Theyve taken weight out of the car, which I think was definitely the right move. Basically what were working on is getting more mechanical grip and having the car not be so aero dependent.

NASCAR has worked with Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota to develop the next generation of race cars that will make their debut during Speedweeks 2013 at Daytona International Speedway. The new race cars are designed to mirror their production counterparts in appearance.

Its going to look really, really cool, Montoya said. Im excited. If youre a fan and you like a certain car, youre really going to fall in love with it watching a race. And you can really relate to it more than before.

--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"