NASCAR summoned Sprint Cup Series crew chiefs to a 4:30 p.m. ET meeting Saturday at Michigan International Speedway to reveal the proposed testing rules for 2009.
Under the new proposal, each organization will receive 24 test days — not total tests. Teams will be allowed to test two cars per organization at any sanctioned racetrack on the Sprint Cup schedule.
"It's not going to help us none because we can't put but two cars on the track at a time," said Tony Eury Jr., crew chief of the No. 88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet. "It's going to be an advantage to have two teams but not four. But it hurts a four-car organization like Hendrick that has four cars."
Preseason Daytona testing will remain intact as is, with teams heading down to the 2.5-mile Superspeedway for three days of testing in early January. That session will not count towards the 24 day total. Another aspect that will remain the same from this year's testing policy is the test voucher — teams must submit the names of participants and the dates of the test.
NASCAR will maintain a testing blackout for seven days prior to an event at a track. Exclusive track rental by a single organization will not be permitted.
Drivers are not allowed to test outside of their organizations. New teams will remain on a race-as-you-earn policy — in other words, teams will be allowed to test only if they race. Laboratory tire testing is absolutely prohibited. __________________
