What are Wind Tunnel Tests in NASCAR and Why Was Hendrick Motorsports Fined For it?

Published 09/26/2020, 12:52 PM EDT

NASCAR fined Hendrick Motorsports a hefty amount of $100,000 on Thursday. The fine was imposed on the team for surpassing the time permitted for wind tunnel testing in a year. NASCAR additionally subtracted 10 hours of wind tunnel testing time from next year. A team can use a maximum of 70 hours in 2020 and 90 hours in 2021, and a total of 150 hours of wind tunnel testing until December 31, 2021.

Hendrick Motorsports reported this infringement itself in the wake of finding it had surpassed 70 hours by “minutes”, Bob Pockrass tweeted. However, Hendrick Motorsports will not appeal against the penalty.

NASCAR fined Hendrick Motorsports $100K & docked it 10 hours of 2021 wind tunnel time for exceeding maximum 70 hrs allotted this yr (they will be allowed 70 hours instead of allotted 80 hours next yr). My understanding HMS self-reported after realizing it exceeded max by minutes.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 24, 2020

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Per the NASCAR rule book: “Organizations are allocated 150 testing hours to be used on Gen 6 vehicles through December 31, 2021, with maximum usage of 70 hours in 2020 and maximum usage of 90 hours in 2021.”

NASCAR reports, “Organizations will be limited to a total of 150 hours of wind-tunnel testing per year. There was previously no limit. Testing happens at four wind-tunnel facilities: Aerodyn Wind Tunnel in Mooresville, North Carolina; Auto Research Center (ARC) in Indianapolis; Penske Technology Group Wind Tunnel in Mooresville, North Carolina; and Windshear Wind Tunnel in Concord, North Carolina.”

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Why Wind Tunnel Testing is important in NASCAR

Teams test their vehicles in the wind tunnel for aerodynamic effectiveness. The teams can get data on a variety of things, like downforce and drag levels. Due to COVID-19 drivers race without practice sessions and even without qualifying.

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The cars have to be perfect before running for the race as the teams do not get any information due to the cancellation of the practice and qualifying session.

Above all, Wind Tunnels can give racing drivers a tremendous amount of data on the best way to make their vehicles streamlined. Therefore, these tests help in shaping vehicles to their most efficient forms.

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In addition, Wind Tunnels help eradicate different factors that influence results on a race day. With regard to Aerodynamics, Wind Tunnels prove quite helpful for teams.

Teams have used Wind Tunnels for a long time and depend upon these tests to constantly improve their cars.

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Written by:

Abhay Aggarwal is sports analyst at EssentiallySports. Having joined ES in early 2020, he has over 300 NASCAR, Formula 1, and Tennis articles to his name. Abhay has been an avid motorsports fan for over a decade, and he even attended the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in 2011.