Talladega COT rules

Sunday’s UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway marks the big track debut of the Car of Tomorrow, the first time it’s run on a superspeedway. The COT is taller and has more drag than the old-style spoiler car, which means NASCAR car run a larger restrictor-plate this weekend. Teams will begin the weekend using a 31/32-inch restrictor plate – the same size they tested with last month. They ran 7/8 (28/32) inch plates the last time they raced at Talladega in May. The bigger plate is expected to add 75-80 horsepower, NASCAR said. Should the cars prove too fast during practice, NASCAR has the option of installing smaller plates for the race. NASCAR also has mandated a minimum rear wing angle of 10 degrees. NASCAR will supply the wings at the track, as it has done in all previous COT races. NASCAR also will issue the teams end plates at the track, which has not been done before. Other changes include a taller wicker on the rear wing (one inch compared with 3/16 inch in the past), which will help add drag to the car. And for the first time, there will be a mandated gear rule. SPEEDtv.com