"They will come up with a matrix of parts and pieces we will bring and go through it with a systematic testing process," Dave Wilson, president and general manager for Toyota Racing Development (TRD) USA, said.
 
"I think it’s just the quest to further improve the quality of racing. On the whole everyone has been happy with the changes they made year over year. But by the same token I think everyone believes we could be better, the racing could still be better at certain venues. The ability to pass, to race side by side, all those things, there’s always room for improvement."
 
Both Wilson and Pat Suhy, manager, Chevrolet Racing, NASCAR Group Manager, said the timing of the test is a plus for the series. Although research and development work for this year’s package began earlier in the year, actual on-track testing by multiple teams didn’t take place until December.
 
"When you look at the lead time required for teams to begin implementing changes, the sooner you can begin working toward those (changes) the better," Suhy said.
 
Changes for 2014 consisted of statically setting the race car ride heights and eliminating pre- and post-race front ride height rules. A square leading edge was added to the splitter; adjustments were made to the rear fascia and side skirts and spoiler height was set at eight inches. The addition of 43-inch by 13-inch radiator pan rounded out the changes.
 
The focus this time is not expected to involve underbody additions or modifications, according to Suhy, although he said that such information has yet to be provided to those involved.
 
Gene Stefanyshyn, vice president of innovation and racing development for NASCAR said the Michigan test "will be a great opportunity to gather more information, help us validate much of the great research done by engineers in our sport and drive us one step closer to our 2015 package."
 
Aug. 19 has been set aside as a possible rain date, should inclement weather prohibit any on-track activities.
 
No specific teams have been chosen for the test. Wilson and Suhy said team participation would depend on the organization’s individual testing schedules. The series moves to Bristol Motor Speedway following the Michigan race.

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"Tony was approaching the end of a very strong 20-lap run," said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing, "with his lap times as much as a second faster than what has become the norm at Indianapolis at that point of a run.
 
"It appears that increased, sustained speed over that run generated a significant amount of heat, which eventually caused the right-front to go down. Those are the conditions we have to consider in making the right decisions for the race."
 
Stewart, a two-time winner of the Brickyard 400, was not injured.

"We blew a tire," Stewart said Friday at Sonoma Raceway, site of Sunday’s Toyota/SaveMart 350. "It destroyed the car, so it was a good hit."

Stewart said he was unsure of the cause, "but that’s part of tire testing. 

"That’s why you go to the test," he said. "I’m sure they’ll learn something from it and go on."

Also taking part were drivers Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing Ford), Clint Bowyer (Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota), Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota),Joey Logano (Team Penske Ford) and Ryan Newman (Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet).
 
The Sprint Cup Series returns to IMS on July 27 for the John Wayne Walding 400 at the Brickyard.

"Our test speeds were extremely fast at Indianapolis," Stucker said. "Like a lot of race tracks we’ve been to this year with this new car package, it appears the race pace can be significantly faster than it’s been in the past. Because of that, we have to make sure we come back with a recommendation that is robust enough for the conditions we’ll have in the race.
 
"The weather conditions during the test were exactly what we have to come to expect during the race weekend in late July — pushing 90 degrees and sunny. That enabled us to evaluate the tires we brought under the proper conditions."

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