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Montoya, McMurray Fourth, Fifth-Fastest at Test

Six-time and reigning GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Cars Series Champions (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012) and four-time Rolex 24 At Daytona Winners (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011) Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) completed three days of testing at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the Rolex 24 At Daytona later this month.


The No. 01 TELMEX/Target Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley piloted by Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas, Juan Pablo Montoya and Charlie Kimball finished the test fourth overall with a 1:42:463, while the No. 02 Target/TELMEX Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley of Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Jamie McMurray and Joey Hand finished fifth with a time of 1:42:598 .  The No.6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley with Cumming, Valiante, Goncalvez, and Yacaman  topped the charts with a 1:42:058.
 
The most notable items of the three days of action included:
 
•Kimball, driver of the No. 83 car for Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series, made his GRAND-AM debut as he climbed behind the wheel of the No. 01 TELMEX/Target Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley over the three-day test session.
•Montoya was reunited with Pruett in the No. 01 TELMEX/Target Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley for the upcoming Rolex 24 Hour At Daytona. The duo won back-to-back races in 2007 and 2008.
•Teams tested in rainy conditions on the first day of the test session, followed by a 12-hour day on Saturday that finished off with teams running under the lights.  
•On the final day of testing, the No. 02 opted to run the morning session but sat out the afternoon practice as they were hoping to get track time in the rain in the No. 02 Target/TELMEX Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley, which never happened.
 
The 2013 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series season opens with the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Jan. 26- 27 (LIVE on SPEED).
 
QUOTEBOARD:
 
Charlie Kimball, No. 01 TELMEX/Target Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley:
"This has really been a great experience.  Chip (Ganassi) has put together a great group of individuals from three different series and I’m learning a lot from all of them.  I’ve gotten quite a bit of time in the car and I’ve had to get used to a lot of things; like getting use to a roof, driving at a new track and even driving at night.  I haven’t driven at night since my go-karting days.  The guys (Memo, Scott and Juan) have been great in helping me and it’s a testament to the group of drivers Chip has put together.  I’m really looking forward to being a part of and contributing to the Rolex 24 At Daytona."
 
Jamie McMurray, No. 02 Target/TELMEX Dinan-Prepared BMW Riley:
"We had a good couple of days testing.  It’s always fun to get in these cars.  It was a first for me to get in the car while it was raining but I turned some quick laps (on Friday) and we ended up on top of the leaderboard that session.  What a different experience that is, but still fun.  We’ve got a great driver line-up and what a diverse group it is.  We all learn something from each other and the race should be really exciting.  I’m looking forward to it."

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KBM signing lets Kligerman focus on Nationwide Series

Parker Kligerman spent a few days last month at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, testing his new race car on the landing strip once used by space shuttles. He went out again and again in straight-line runs to confirm aerodynamic wind-tunnel findings on a concrete strip that measures 15,000 feet long and sometimes needs to be cleared of sunbathing alligators.

Like all testing, it could be seen as drudge work. But to Kligerman, it was symbolic of something else: the time he has to build his new NASCAR Nationwide Series program with Kyle Busch Motorsports, an unusual luxury for a driver who has been more accustomed to deals coming together at the last minute.

“The coolest thing is being able to build the program,” said Kligerman, a 22-year-old Connecticut native. “That’s what it’s all about. The time allows you to do things like go straight-line testing, which you don’t do unless you have a program you’re serious about — improving your aero situation, improving your body, improving what you see in the wind tunnel. Those things take time. That’s the only way to accomplish them.”

"This is an opportunity, as a young driver, you just don’t pass up."

— Parker Kligerman

Offseason testing may sound routine, but very little has been routine to a driver who has already bounced around a bit in his short time in NASCAR. For KBM, Kligerman’s hiring marks the organization’s first attempt at fielding a full-time driver on the Nationwide tour, a model it’s also following on the Camping World Truck Series side with Joey Coulter. For the driver, though, the new ride brings needed stability, particularly after a 2012 season split between two teams and a career spent waiting for seats to materialize.

KBM announced Kligerman’s hiring Dec. 18, soon afterward pairing him with crew chief Eric Phillips — a 17-time race winner in the Truck Series — in a No. 77 car. Since moving into NASCAR, Kligerman said he has never had his plans for the following season finalized so early.

“Since I’ve been in the stock-car ranks, it’s not been a great time in our economy and in our sport, so there have not been many things that have been decided very early,” he said. “So everything’s kind of waiting to the last second, and then people kind of commit to the last second. No one wants to commit too early, because they’re unsure of what’s going to happen. That’s one of the coolest things, having everything solidified so early, and being able to work with the team early enough.”

He hopes having that lead time will pay off once the season begins, potentially allowing his team to improve the program week-to-week rather than play catch-up. But Kligerman also realizes that, although the owner always has high expectations, this is essentially a start-up program for a team that turned out its first Nationwide vehicles only last year. That car won just once, despite Kyle and Kurt Busch splitting time behind the wheel.

“We have to be realistic about the start of the season,” Kligerman said. “I think when you look at that, you just want to have solid finishes and things to build on. You can work on your race cars, find the things they need, and hopefully as the season goes on and you build new race cars, you can start to see some of the fruition of your efforts. Eventually, you hope you’re at the point end of the field and fighting for wins. (If) you do that, I feel there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re solidly going to put yourself in the top five in points. And if you’re in the top five in points, historically, you probably have a shot at the championship. That’s the way I look at it.”

The potential certainly seems there, particularly with a driver who posted solid numbers in the Camping World Truck Series last year despite a midseason change in teams. Kligerman started the first 11 events for Brad Keselowski Racing, but was released in August. He signed with Red Horse Racing, and ended the year with a blitz of top-10s that included his first victory: a win at Talladega. Kligerman said the option was there to stay at Red Horse and run for the Truck Series title, but when the KBM offer came he had no choice but to leave.

“This is an opportunity, as a young driver, you just don’t pass up,” he said. “I told the Red Horse guys, even if we went out there and won 10 races and won the championship, I’m not sure this opportunity (at KBM) would still be there. … Even if it’s not perfect, with this kind if opportunity, you feel like if you can just make it a little better than it is, you can really make something happen.”

Besides, KBM had been on Kligerman’s radar screen for some time. He qualified on the same row as Kyle Busch last season at Chicagoland, his final Nationwide start for Penske Racing (with which BKR is affiliated), and spent the pre-race ride around the track asking the Sprint Cup star about potential Truck Series openings on his team. When Kligerman was released from BKR, KBM general manager Rick Ren called to tell him there wasn’t a Truck seat available, but there might be something else open for 2013.

That something became the Nationwide car. Kligerman has limited experience in the series, with only 18 career starts, and a best finish of seventh in that same Chicagoland event where he bent the ear of his future boss. But as he looks back on his turbulent 2012 campaign, he figures if he can post strong results splitting the year among two teams, he might be capable of much more with one.

“I think last year turned a lot of people’s heads,” he said. “They say, ‘If he can do it with two teams, then what could he do in a stable situation?’ That helped, too. So it’s a good deal. I’m excited about it.”

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New-look cars, new teammates like Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano and a hot rookie battle all add intrigue to the 2013 season

The highly anticipated debut of NASCAR’s Generation-6 cars, fan-friendly competition changes, new team alignments, a bona fide Rookie of the Year battle and the million-dollar question of whether newly crowned 2012 champion Brad Keselowski can win again give the 2013 Sprint Cup Series season all the trappings of a drama-fueled year.

Few seasons have been as keenly awaited as 2013, which promises exciting changes to NASCAR competition.

Undoubtedly, the single most important development for NASCAR in 2013 is the debut of the first new car models since 2007.

With all the flashy manufacturer’s “unveils” complete and the Gen-6 cars in the midst of the last crucial on-track tests, it appears the drivers are as excited about the new-look cars as the fans, NASCAR and the manufacturers.

"I think next year holds a lot in store as far as the new car and fans being excited about it."

— Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

After a six-year run with the COT (Car of Tomorrow), NASCAR will return to the production-based cars on which the sport was founded. The 2013 Ford Fusions, Chevrolet SSs and Toyota Camrys competing this season more closely resemble their showroom counterparts.

The new models will still use all the safety innovations that characterized and defined the COT — but come with updated technology, plenty of speed and the real look of street cars. The aim is a stronger connection with fans, who have fervently embraced the “race on Sunday, buy on Monday” ideal in the past.

The drivers have been genuinely impressed with the aesthetics of the Gen-6 car, and NASCAR has spent more than a year getting it race ready. From chassis design to wind-tunnel testing to the current on-track runs, the sanctioning body has followed a systematic process to figure out a rules package, refine race trim and make the cars race as good as they look.

Preseason testing has produced track record-worthy speeds and drivers say it’s a good indicator of what to expect in the upcoming season.

“What’s paramount is taking this car and making sure we have great racing, not in a way that’s dangerous, not in a way that’s ridiculous with crazy race rules; but in a way that’s natural,” veteran Jeff Burton said. “Make it so that drivers can drive the car in such a way it’s fun to watch them do it. That’s the opportunity we have in front of us.”

Competition changes
Beyond the new cars, fans will immediately notice several competition changes — most notably the way the 43-car Sprint Cup fields will be set — a “big win for our fans” according to NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton.

In a move to add “intrigue, excitement and drama” to qualifying, NASCAR announced a new 36-6-1 procedure to set the Sprint Cup Series starting fields.

The fastest 36 cars will earn a starting spot based on speed, the next six highest-ranking cars in owners points will also get a spot on the grid, and the final position will go to the most recent eligible past champion.

Since 2008, the top-35 positions were locked in based on owner’s points and now only a maximum of seven positions will be based on points — returning a greater emphasis to speed and time trials. And the preceding year’s owners points will apply only to the first three races, as opposed to the first five races applied in previous years.

Additionally, the series is going back to a “random draw” for qualifying order. Should qualifying be canceled because of rain, the starting lineup will still be set by practice speeds.

The other major change this year — especially significant with the introduction of new cars — opens up NASCAR’s testing policy. Each organization will be allowed four tests at tracks where the series competes. In an effort to discourage testing and curb costs during the past four seasons, teams were allowed to test only at tracks that did not host Cup races.

New alignments
In addition to the Gen-6 cars and new qualifying format, the 2013 season will feature some key changes with marquee names and nameplates.

In mid-December, Matt Kenseth showed up at the Roush Fenway Racing shop and delivered bottles of champagne to team members to thank them for a 15-year relationship that produced a Cup Rookie of the Year (2000) title, Sprint Cup championship (2003) and a pair of Daytona 500 victories (2009 and 2012).

Even as Kenseth officially began his tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing this offseason, here he was providing the kind of goodwill send-off that marks several high-profile team and manufacturer realignments for the upcoming season.

Dodge enjoyed a similar celebratory farewell, saying good-bye to Sprint Cup Series competition after a stunning 2012 championship run by Penske Racing’s Brad Keselowski.

Starting this year, the legendary Penske organization will field Ford Fusions and it welcomes a new teammate for Keselowski, fourth-year driver Joey Logano, who moves out of the cockpit of the No. 20 Toyota now belonging to Kenseth — and into the No. 22 Penske Ford.

Two-time Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is filling the vacancy Kenseth left at Roush Fenway Racing and will try to add Rookie of the Year to his list of NASCAR achievements.

And former Cup champion Kurt Busch moves to the Furniture Row Racing No. 78 — his third team in the past two seasons.

“It’s all unknowns,” said Kenseth, who finished seventh in the 2012 Chase. .“ … It’s completely different crew, crew chief, organization, car manufacturer, car body style and teammates. …

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous about it, but I’m also excited and really looking forward to it.”

Rookie battle
It’s a similar theme for Sprint Cup’s two high-profile rookies: Stenhouse and former IndyCar star Danica Patrick, who have prepared years for their big move into NASCAR’s marquee series.

After several seasons of small rookie classes and relatively anticlimactic rookie titles runs, 2013 should provide one of the most-watched rookie competitions in recent memory.

Stenhouse, a two-time Nationwide champ, moves into Kenseth’s seat at Roush Fenway Racing. Patrick, who just finished her first full-time Nationwide schedule, will drive a Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing under the guidance of teammate Ryan Newman’s former crew chief, veteran Tony Gibson.

What makes this competition between Patrick and Stenhouse so interesting is that the two have developed a strong friendship and good rapport. Patrick, who was voted the Nationwide Series’ 2012 Most Popular Driver, frequently relied on Stenhouse — a former sprint car driver — for help adjusting to the bulkier stock cars.

“It’ll be fun,” Stenhouse said. “I can’t help her too much in the Cup car, though, she’s got more races than I’ve got. And we probably both lean on the same people on the Cup side, as far as Tony (Stewart).

“It should be good. I’m anxious to get it going. I think next year holds a lot in store as far as the new car and fans being excited about it.”

For her part, Patrick has insisted on a methodical and tempered approach to her transition from the open-wheel ranks.

After partial seasons split between IndyCar and NASCAR, she ran a full Nationwide schedule in 2012 with 10 Cup starts as well. Her best Cup finish of 17th came in her last start in November in hometown Phoenix.

“I feel much more prepared,” Patrick said. “I am more comfortable with the cars, the race weekends, the schedules.”

Repeat?
Of course the big question, the true intrigue, the most suspense of the 2013 season surrounds the Sprint Cup championship.

Can the 28-year-old Keselowski become the first repeat champion since Jimmie Johnson made his historic five-year title run from 2006-2010?

He has never been more confident. But his competition has never been more motivated.

With so many unknowns for the upcoming season regarding the new cars and high-profile team realignments, some feel this season — more than recent others — is anybody’s game.

“As competitive as every company is right now, I don’t think anyone has an advantage going into the new season,” said Hendrick driver Kasey Kahne, who is coming off a career best fourth-place finish in points.

“Some drivers are going to adapt and like the new car quicker. It’s definitely going to do things differently. … I’m hoping it plays into my court.

“Of course, everyone is thinking the same thing.”

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Dillon tests at Mid-Ohio in preparation for tough 2013 competition

Austin Dillon wants to win the 2013 championship in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series.

Welcome to the club, A.D. So does every other driver — and many of them stand a good chance. Elliott Sadler, who led the series in points after 25 of the series’ 33 races a year ago, once more has his eye on the prize. As does his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Brian Vickers, who returns to the series full-time a decade after capturing the crown.

Sam Hornish Jr. (Penske Racing), Michael Annett (Richard Petty Motorsports) and Justin Allgaier (likely Turner Scott Motorsports) hope to build on top-10 points efforts from a season ago, and likely will be in the mix. Those are just a few of Dillon’s peers who could rise up and capture the spot vacated by two-time series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

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With so much tough competition, Dillon understands that contending for the championship, let alone winning it, won’t be easy. The 2012 season — his first in the series — confirmed as much.

“The competition level was definitely higher. … We knew what it took to win a truck championship (the year before) and we tried to make the same gains we did in 2011 going into 2012," the 22-year-old Dillon said. "… There were a lot of tracks we’d never been to; a heavier schedule where we were on the road a lot longer. It definitely was a pretty big transition.”

Dillon and his Richard Childress Racing team proved to be capable, if not successful, sweeping both 300-mile races at Kentucky Speedway while en route to a third-place points finish. His 16 top-five finishes were only three fewer than Stenhouse’s (19), and one more than Sadler’s (15). His 27 top-10 finishes led the series.

Heading into his sophomore season, Dillon recognizes there are areas where he needs to improve as a driver and where his team needs to improve as a unit. While there will be a few moves among crewmen for the team, the core of the group, which is led by crew chief Danny Stockman, is back for 2013.

“I’d like to improve on restarts a little bit and (on) the road courses,” Dillon said. "Those two parts are the (big) things I want to improve on. Taking chances and … just continue to be fast throughout the run.

“As a team, I think there are things we can all gain on. We’ve made a little bit of change already with some personnel, and I think that’s going to help.”

Only three of the team’s finishes last season were outside the top 15, and two of those came on road courses: Dillon was 18th at Road America and 23rd at Watkins Glen. Those results are part of the reason the team recently tested at Mid-Ohio, which has replaced Montreal’s road course, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, on the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule.

“I definitely took the initiative to work on it for this year,” Dillon said. “We had a good test at Mid-Ohio. That was the best I’ve felt at a road course since we’ve been going to them. I still need more experience racing around cars; I think that’s the toughest thing. I’m getting to the point where I can go fast on a road course; it’s just learning how to set people up and take the right time to attack.”

Dillon won the Truck Series championship one year after winning the series’ rookie of the year title. Can he repeat that feat in the Nationwide Series, where he nabbed the rookie award last year?

Others have done so on the Nationwide tour: Kevin Harvick (2000-01), Greg Biffle (2001-02) and, more recently, Stenhouse Jr. (2010-11).

Still, it’s a tall order.

“I definitely think the guys who have (Sprint) Cup experience that are coming down, Regan Smith (JR Motorsports), Brian Vickers, Sadler are all going to be up there each and every week,” Dillon said. “All three are in good equipment so they’ll be tough. … The competition level is going to be better than it’s ever been. You’re going to have to step it up.”

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Team rebranded as Turner Scott Motorsports

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — It was announced today that Harry Scott Jr., longtime minority owner of Turner Motorsports, will expand his involvement with the team, partnering with Steve Turner as co-owner of the newly rebranded Turner Scott Motorsports. 

Scott began his involvement with the team as both a minority owner and sponsor in 2009, first partnering with Braun Racing, which was later acquired by Turner Motorsports. Scott’s decision to increase his stake in the racing organization was driven by his desire to be more involved in the operations of the team. In addition to sharing the duties of overseeing the organization, Scott will manage the team’s marketing, public relations and business development efforts, while Turner will manage the competition side of the multi-series team.

"Harry has been committed to our racing program, its drivers and our sponsors for several years, and he is a vital part of our organization."

— Steve Turner

"Harry [Scott Jr.] becoming a co-owner is very positive for this organization as a whole," said Turner. "This team has grown and accomplished so much in the last few years, and it is still continuing to grow. Harry has been committed to our racing program, its drivers and our sponsors for several years, and he is a vital part of our organization. He is passionate about our sport and our employees, and has proven himself as a very successful businessman, so putting him in charge of our marketing and business efforts is a natural and perfect fit. We have always considered him to be an integral part of the Turner Motorsports family, and this is an opportunity for him to formally take over some of the reins as we continue to build this organization into one of the most successful teams in NASCAR. I am very optimistic that Turner Scott Motorsports will build upon our solid base and achieve continued success."

The organization, which captured the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) championship in 2012 with James Buescher behind the wheel of the No. 31, has already announced that Buescher, Miguel Paludo and Jeb Burton will all pilot trucks under the Turner Scott Motorsports banner in 2013. In addition to the NCWTS championship, Turner Scott Motorsports tallied seven wins and five pole awards in the Truck Series in 2012. In the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS), the team scored three wins and three pole awards last season. Details regarding the team’s driver and sponsor lineup for the 2013 NNS program are forthcoming.

"I am very excited to be taking on this new role within the organization," said Scott. "As a Carolina native, NASCAR racing is something that has always been in my blood, and my passion for the sport has only grown since I began my involvement with Steve Turner a few years ago. He has built a very strong organization with incredibly talented people in place, and I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity to be a co-owner of this team. This race team has already experienced so much early success at many different levels, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that everyone here is committed to working together toward a common goal. We are fortunate to have some of the best sponsors, partners and team members in the sport, and I look forward to continuing those relationships, as well as building new ones. I foresee a very bright future for Turner Scott Motorsports." 

About Turner Scott Motorsports:

Turner Scott Motorsports was established in 1999 by Texas businessman Steve Turner. 2013 will mark the fourth season of full-time NASCAR competition for the organization, which expanded in 2011 from a two-truck operation in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) to become the largest stand-alone multi-series team in NASCAR’s top-tier touring series. The team earned its first championship when James Buescher captured the NCWTS title in 2012. Turner Scott Motorsports operates out of an 110,000 square-foot state-of-the art facility in Mooresville, N.C.  The Chevrolet-backed team has created alliances with General Motors’ powerhouse team Hendrick Motorsports, which provides engine support for both its NNS and NCWTS programs, and Earnhardt Technology Group for drive train and suspension technology assistance. For more information on Turner Scott Motorsports, visit www.TurnerScottMotorsports.com. 

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Organizations taking inclusionary, ‘best of both worlds’ multi-class approach

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Underscoring the cooperative spirit of their merger announced last September, GRAND-AM Road Racing and the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón today unveiled the initial concept for the organizations’ unified competition class structure that will debut in January 2014 at the 52nd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The lineup — in effect for the 2014 and 2015 seasons — is based on a philosophy of inclusion. The majority of classes from both the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the ALMS will be retained with the exception of the ALMS’ P1 prototype class.

Individual class names have yet to be determined. The planned structure:

  • — GRAND-AM’s DP and the ALMS’ P2 classes will combine into one, headlining prototype class that also will include the revolutionary DeltaWing prototype, with performance of the cars balanced to maintain close competition.

  • — The ALMS’ Prototype Challenge (PC) class for spec prototypes will continue to run as a separate class.

  • — Both of the organizations’ production-based GT classes will continue as separate, distinct categories based on performance, preserving each class’ proud history and loyal fan following. As part of this plan, the ALMS’ GTC cars will join the GRAND-AM GTs.

  • — GRAND-AM’s new GX class, which is debuting at this year’s Rolex 24 later this month, is being explored as a possible addition to the GRAND-AM half of the GT mix in 2014-15. There also is the possibility that GX will run separately as a fifth class.


Specifications for all classes still are being determined and will be announced later this year. In addition, there will be continued discussion regarding the increasing inclusion of green technologies in the new unified series.

“This is a ‘best-of-both-worlds’ approach that reflects the fact we have a true merger evolving on a daily basis,” said GRAND-AM Managing Director of Competition Richard Buck.

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GRAND-AM, ALMS Announce Unified Class Structure

“And this announcement is only a first step in solidifying our class structure. Our organizations’ respective competition departments are working diligently on balance of performance for the top prototype class, plus overall class specifications across the board.

“This process is not being rushed. We are carefully gathering input from drivers, teams and stakeholders throughout the sports car industry, emphasizing inclusion, as we work toward a simple — but also complex — goal: we want to get it right the first time.”

Added International Motor Sports Association and ALMS Chief Operating Officer Scot Elkins: “Numerous important partners and stakeholders have been invaluable during this process. We could not have reached these decisions as rapidly as we did without that assistance. Many factors were taken into consideration for this initial conceptual lineup, but the priority was to enable as many current competitors as possible to continue racing with their existing equipment.

“We also want to thank the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) for its input as we strive to maintain the important ability of teams to qualify for and race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

 ABOUT GRAND-AM ROAD RACING:

GRAND-AM Road Racing operates and sanctions the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. GRAND-AM also sanctions the Ferrari Challenge in North America. Owned by NASCAR Holdings Inc., GRAND-AM is located in Daytona Beach, Fla. With a racing schedule led by the prestigious season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona, GRAND-AM delivers professional sports car racing to key markets throughout North America in addition to being televised in the United States and Canada on SPEED and distributed globally through ESPN International. For additional information, please visit www.grand-ammedia.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES:

The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is based on the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. It features multiple classes of purpose-built prototypes and production-based GT cars that race on the same track at the same time. The ALMS holds events annually throughout North America on premier urban street circuits and top permanent natural terrain road courses. The American Le Mans Series has a leadership role in motorsports for the furthering of alternative fuel technology and use. The ALMS was the first motorsports body in the world to embrace an entire suite of alternative energy sources — E10 and E85 cellulosic ethanols, isobutanol, clean diesel and hybrid technologies. For additional information, please visit www.alms.com.

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Generation-6 cars have balance between functionality, organic look

His job is to take the canvas of a production vehicle and instill it with character and emotion, with the goal of stopping a potential buyer on the showroom floor. And yet, Garen Nicoghosian follows road racing, quotes motorsports innovator Colin Chapman and slides behind the wheel of a sports car himself on test days.

He may be an artist whose medium is glass and steel, but the top Ford designer can still appreciate the things needed to make a race car go fast.

So when the opportunity arose to help craft the manufacturer’s 2013 entry on the Sprint Cup Series tour, he didn’t pass up the chance.

“It was a choice assignment, and not one that comes around very often,” Nicoghosian said. “… It gave you a good feeling. It made you feel warm and fuzzy that you worked on a pivotal point in the sport’s current time. And if you end up doing something pretty great, everybody wins as a result of it.”

Brand identity is the hallmark of the 2013 Sprint Cup cars, which will debut at Daytona in February and include physical features closely resemble their counterparts on the street. From Ford’s grille to Toyota’s side creases and Chevrolet’s vents behind the front wheels (non-functioning, in this case), it will be the details that connect the race cars to their production brethren and make them stand out from one another more than they have in decades.

To a large degree that stems from the involvement of manufacturer designers, which Ford NASCAR operations manager Andy Slankard called “a unique thing that probably hasn’t happened since the ’70s.”

Indeed, very little design went into the previous Sprint Cup vehicle, which was built primarily with safety in mind. Although those safety innovations will be carried over to this next-generation car, NASCAR opened up several parts of the body to manufacturers who wanted fans to see the difference between a Fusion, a Camry and an SS.

In came the designers, the same ones used to create the look of their respective passenger cars, in some cases using tools like clay modeling that had never been employed in race car construction before. In each instance, they were tasked with striking a delicate balance — give the car enough character so it’s identifiable to fans in the grandstand, but also ensure all those design elements don’t detract from performance.

“To (paraphrase) Colin Chapman, a race car is only as good as its finishes. Only then are all the blood, sweat and tears worth it,” Nicoghosian said. “Otherwise, it’s nothing more than a failure. If it can’t compete for overall top honors, then it’s failed in its primary goal. … For that, we were very open to the idea of being able to blur the line between performance and design. That was the challenge: to not get too designy and looped out on the fact that it’s a race car. It needs to win.”

All of which led to the occasional nervous moments for the racing executives involved in the process. Andy Graves, Toyota’s Sprint Cup program manager, can still remember the first test of the new Camry at the AeroDyn wind tunnel in Mooresville, N.C., in January. Anxious?

“You have no idea,” Graves said. “We had our fingers crossed. … If it has bad aero characteristics, you have to start over. And then you have to get into their uncomfortable zone, pushing them to redesign and put character in places that they didn’t want.”

Thankfully for the Toyota camp, that didn’t happen — they had the opposite problem, Graves said, with the new Camry performing so well they had to tone it down. But that didn’t mean the task was simple for the designers, who couldn’t touch the common areas the manufacturers and NASCAR had collectively decided would be off limits, not to mention “hard points” that needed to remain intact for aerodynamic or performance reasons.

“It was a challenge, there’s no doubt,” said Kevin Hunter, president of Toyota’s Calty design studio. “I think the one thing that surprised us was all the hard points we had to keep for performance issues and aerodynamic matters. Given that environment, trying to capture the essence of the Camry production car was a pretty big challenge. I think in the end what it really boiled down to was trying to capture … the brand identity and the character of the front. So we spent a lot of time on the front end trying to capture it the best we could. It was the area where we had the freedom to actually capture the production car most accurately.”

Each designer had to make sacrifices, and each had to find the right characteristics to carry over from the production model. At Toyota, that meant tightening up the character line that runs from the back of the front wheel to the rear of the street Camry. There are smaller flourishes, like the rocker panel, where the sheet metal folds out. And then there’s that distinctive, snarling front end.

“From the A pillar forward, the car looks really terrific,” Hunter said. “There’s no doubt it captures the Camry image.”

Similarly, Ford’s Nicoghosian fought to protect areas like the front end, the hood, the sides and even the headlight design. “You go for a feeling,” he said. “You’re not going to bring anything verbatim, because the packages are so different from one another proportionally, dimensionally, layout-wise, it doesn’t matter how you look at it. There’s nothing common between a Fusion road car and Fusion race car, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that looking at our version of the race car next to a production car. There’s a closeness that you can’t deny. And the way we did that was, we took the essence of what made a Fusion a Fusion.”

Most notably, the front grille, which thrills Ford Racing chief Jamie Allison.

“The fact that we have truly a grille element, with the grille bars, designed into a car that’s going to do 200 mph on the race track goes to show you that you can indeed have design features in a car that comes from production, and yet without impacting the performance of the car on the race track,” he said. “That to me is one of the symbols of success. Because we’re going to have fans that say, ‘Wow. It has a grille. Which is what cars have.’ ”

Chevrolet faced an additional challenge in building the SS from a production model that won’t be launched until February, but whose development began ahead of the race car. The racers were assisted by John Cafaro, lead designer on the production SS, who had worked on previous motorsports projects involving the Camaro and Corvette. Cafaro solicited sketches from Holden, the Australian GM subsidiary that makes an almost identical vehicle, and was at Hendrick Motorsports to help fine-tune the first prototype.

“We came in a large part of the way with the passenger car, and from there we just had to keep up,” said Pat Suhy, NASCAR group manager for GM Racing. “As they changed things, changes in the grille detail, headlight details, things like that, we just had to stay in close touch with them. And as those things evolved, we just had to evolve the race car to keep up.”

Suhy said Cafaro is a race fan who was “fully engaged” with the project. That seemed the case with every manufacturer, whose designers clearly relished the assignment. Nicoghosian called working on the vehicle “one of the highlights of my career at Ford.” Hunter, who is also developing a new Toyota funny car and Camping World Truck Series entry, said he plans to be in Daytona for the vehicle’s first race.

“It was a thrill for us to be involved in the whole project, because we’re a bunch of car nuts and race enthusiasts,” he said. “So for us to be involved was crazy exciting.”



Posted on by Holly Cain

Popular racer tries to put 2012 season, suspension behind him

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — AJ Allmendinger went to bed at 9:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

“I didn’t want to spend any more time in 2012; I was done with it; I didn’t want to live any more of it,” Allmendinger said Friday from Daytona International Speedway, where he fast-forwarded to 2013 as the top driver in the opening day of a three-day test session for the Jan. 26-27 Rolex 24 sports car endurance.

Already it feels like a better year, a fresh start for the popular driver, whom NASCAR suspended July 7 for failing a drug test and reinstated in September after he successfully completed NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program.

As was the case on New Year’s Eve, Allmendinger, 32, isn’t dwelling on the past, but looking ahead — ready to enjoy the greater peace and broader perspective he has found in going through his public struggles. He’s convinced he has come out on the right side of a life-changing situation.

"I have a lot of unfinished business (in Cup). That’s not the way I want to go out."

—AJ Allmendinger

After helping the Michael Shank Racing team to a dramatic underdog victory over the big-budget teams in last year’s Rolex 24, Allmendinger was on top of the world.

No sooner had he gotten his shiny new Rolex sized in Daytona Beach then he was back to Charlotte to prepare for the biggest opportunity of his life: a full-time job with the legendary Penske Racing Sprint Cup Series team.

Losing all that 17 races into the season because of a poor decision — he says he mistakenly took a prescription Adderall pill — haunts him.

“But I’m a lot better person sitting here right now than I was when we had the press conference and I had just won this (Rolex 24) race last year,” Allmendinger said. “I’ve learned from everything.

“It was the highest moment of my life when I drove in here (last February), and it was also the lowest moment of my life, because all the hell in my life started in the July Cup race,” he explained. … “I reflect on it every day and you go through the process of life.”

Although Shank never hesitated to put him behind the wheel to defend the team’s title — “it was a no-brainer,” Shank says — Allmendinger doesn’t have a job beyond this month’s Rolex 24.

He has found the harsh reality difficult in recent weeks, dealing with an empty schedule when in recent memory he has usually spent this time steeped in team, press and fan commitments in preparation for the upcoming season.

Instead of seat fittings at the race shop, test sessions and NASCAR Media Day, his days are filled with golf, workouts at the gym and he jokes, “working at my friend’s sandwich shop in case I need another job.”

“I’m not going to lie and say I wake up every day joyous and happy,” Allmendinger said. “Some days I have to find self-worth in what’s going on since I’ve been so used to — especially at this point — being at a race shop getting ready to go testing, doing this race, then jumping in a (Cup car).”

Allmendinger says he’s open to any form of racing, from IndyCars — he won five races in the 2006 Champ Car Series — to sports cars to NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series.

But his heart remains attached to another competitive shot in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, where he is confident his immense desire will match his considerable talent.

Allmendinger is realistic that the bigger teams have already firmed up their driver lineups, but he says the small, independent Phoenix Racing team remains a possibility. He ran four races for them last fall and remains grateful for their willingness to give him a shot then — and perhaps in the future.

“We stayed in contact and I appreciated what they did for me,” he said. … “I have a lot of unfinished business (in Cup). That’s not the way I want to go out.

“All the things I’ve been through, I’ve gotten better from. I’m fortunate to have the chance to be back here. The good thing is I’m here, the race car’s fast and we have a chance to win this thing.”

And he’s not looking back.

Posted on by Holly Cain

Allmendinger, Ambrose among big names at annual three-day tune-up

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Defending Rolex 24 race winner AJ Allmendinger posted the fastest lap in Friday’s Roar before the Rolex 24 test at Daytona International Speedway with Juan Pablo Montoya and Marcos Ambrose also leading a contingent of NASCAR Sprint Cup stars ringing in the new season this weekend in the annual three-day tune-up.

Ambrose sat atop the speed chart for much of the foggy, chilly first day of preparation for auto racing’s traditional season opening endurance race on Jan. 26-27.

It was an impressive effort from Ambrose, who was turning his first-ever laps in a GRAND-AM Rolex Series Daytona Prototype. Ambrose was a late addition to the Michael Shank Racing team — on hand to potentially fill in for Oswaldo Negri, who is recovering from an ankle injury.

Allmendinger’s performance around the 3.56-mile road course was less surprising, considering he led the Shank team to a dramatic victory last year over favorites like Chip Ganassi Racing’s two-car entry and all-star driver lineup.

"It’s a fun event for me, less pressure because you’re just a part of it, you’re not all of it."

—Marcos Ambrose

“Obviously, the weather was a big thing today,” Allmendinger said. “But even in the damp conditions the car was solid and I was just getting back in the flow of not having driven this car for the past year.  A lot of the credit goes to (co-drivers) Oz (Oswaldo Negri) and John (Pew) for developing the car. It’s still early, but it was a good, solid day.”

As is typical of recent years, the Rolex 24 will feature a number of NASCAR drivers among its grid of sports car and open-wheel best.

Former Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray will co-drive a second Ganassi car. Two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip announced Thursday that he and Sprint Cup championship runner-up Clint Bowyer will co-drive a Ferrari in the GT class, which was paced Friday by former Cup Rookie of the Year, Andy Lally.

Camping World Truck Series’ 2012 “Most Popular Driver” Nelson Piquet was on hand preparing for his Rolex 24 debut, too.

“I walked down the garage area and bumped into four or five guys I haven’t seen in 10 or 12 years,” Ambrose said. “We’ve all gone different paths in racing, and it’s events like this we all migrate back to and can catch up.

“It’s a fun event for me, less pressure because you’re just a part of it, you’re not all of it.”

Despite a paddock filled with many of racing’s biggest names, Ambrose joked that he remained keenly aware of NASCAR bragging rights.

“I just want to stomp their butts on the ground and get after it,” he joked about his fellow NASCAR drivers.
“No, we’re all competitive, but this is a team event and not about individuals. I’m very mindful that I need to be a good team player for these guys, so I’ll save all my grudge matches for the ovals.”

Even as drivers of all racing disciplines gathered for the legendary event, it was an especially significant day for American sports car racing, which will race under one sanctioning body in 2014.

Officials from GRAND-AM Road Racing and the American LeMans Series announced a significant step in their merger Friday with the initial formation of its class structure.

The exact names of the classes haven’t been decided upon yet — neither has the new series’ name — but the structure of the classes will include two prototype classes (one for the current GRAND-AM’s Daytona Prototypes and the ALMS P2 class and another for the ALMS Prototype Challenge class for spec prototypes).

It will also feature at least two GT classes — one for the current GRAND-AM GT class and another for the current ALMS GTC class. There is a possibility of running the GRAND-AM GX class as a fifth overall division.

It marked great progress in the merger between the two sanctioning bodies, so despite the gloomy weather, there was a real sense of unity and opportunity in the garage area.

It was exactly the kind of hope and opportunity being felt by Friday’s fastest man.

Allmendinger, who drove for Penske Racing in 2012 before being suspended — and later reinstated — for a positive drug test, said he doesn’t have a full-time ride for this year. But he is hopeful something will work out, perhaps with Phoenix Racing, which hired him to compete in four races after he successfully completed NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program last summer.

“Right now, I’m just focusing on this race,” a smiling Allmendinger said. “I’m excited to be back here at this race and be with Michael Shank, who has been like a best friend to me.

“I definitely want to be back in (Sprint) Cup. I have a lot of unfinished business, but I’m open to all options. I’ve learned anything can happen in this world.”

Posted on by

The 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion provides your first look at the new NASCAR.com.

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Preseason Thunder whetted NASCAR fans’ appetites and excitement is building toward the Daytona 500. If you want to get caught up on all your news, NASCAR.com is a great place to start.

We’ve been operational since Jan. 3, but if this is your first visit, we want to make you feel welcome. Therefore, we’ve brought back defending Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski, who can help guide you through the new experience.

In addition to the features shown in the video, we’ve also added other features to give you an upgraded user experience. Some of those features include: 

Better Navigation

The all new NASCAR.com was designed with the fan in mind. Big, bold imagery and videos that help capture the excitement of the sport and all the latest news from a group of veteran and upcoming writers — all in a site that works best on your device … from PC, tablet to phone.

Interactive Features

You can scroll through and interact with everything, or use our navigation feature to find something specific. The goal is to make the new NASCAR experience less cluttered with all available information easier for fans to locate and interact with.

More Ways To Follow The Races

On race day, we made it easy to follow the on-track action by giving you plenty of options … a live leaderboard to follow your favorite drivers, our RaceView and RaceBuddy products and two brand new mobile apps to create a new and improved second screen experience for NASCAR fans.

Follow Live On Fantasy Or At The Track

For fantasy players, NASCAR FANTASY LIVE, our official fantasy NASCAR game, is back with a new look and feel and better gameplay.

If you’re headed to the race, we’ll help you with tickets, event and track information.

User Registration

With your free registration to NASCAR.com, you can select your favorite drivers and tracks, and we can customize the content and messages you will receive. On race day, your drivers will be highlighted on live leaderboards to make it easier than ever to follow the action.

Give Us Your Feedback!

We want to hear your thoughts about our new site. Go here to take a quick survey.