NASCAR, Goodyear implement “Rubber Restrictor Plates”
The $3.5 million repaving project got rave reviews from Nextel Cup drivers Tuesday, their first day on the new surface. Goodyear's choice of a harder tire for this month's NASCAR races at the track didn't fare nearly as well.
"Rubber restrictor plates" is how one crew chief described the tires, which are of a harder compound and similar to those used at Daytona and Talladega.
In at least one respect the comparison to the carburetor restrictor plates, used to slow cars at NASCAR's biggest tracks, was accurate.
"The speeds are slower now because you have to let off (the accelerator) a lot sooner than before. I don't think the track has lost grip, but the tire just has less grip," said Bobby Labonte, one of the drivers who participated in Goodyear's first test after the resurfacing was completed.
"You can't be as aggressive as you could before. It's the same track, but it's just a different tire."
"In the beginning of the day it was real slick out there, there wasn't a whole lot of grip. The more rubber that has been able to be put down, the better the track surface has been getting," said rookie Kyle Busch.
"The track pavement job is excellent. The tires – they're just a little too hard."
Brian Vickers, was more outspoken.
"The tire is just way, way, way too hard. Obviously, if it's too soft, you can end up blowing a tire. But this one is definitely taking it to the extreme," he said.
"I don't think you're going to see any tire problems. You'll probably see fuel mileage come into play at the end of the race."