AJ Allmendinger discusses The Roval; High downforce rules package for 2019
Shane Walters
AJ Allmendinger is in favor of the package but also wants more horsepower
Allmendinger: “I’m all for trying to make the racing closer. If it’s better for the fans, sponsors and the sport.”
NASCAR is hosting meetings on the 2019 rules package. One of the rumors on that proposed list of rule changes regards the high downforce/restrictor plate package. It’s rumored that package is on the table for 13 events next year.
The package was run for the first and only time in the 2018 NASCAR All-Star and Monster Energy Open events. The package is stack contrast to prior rule changes. It adds downforce, adds aero ducts and adds a restrictor plate.
It slows the cars down and narrows the gap from the bigger teams to the smaller teams. It’s a package that is designed to help teams specifically like JTG Daugherty Racing.
The Dinger went on to pick up a win in the 2018 Monster Energy Open. He then went on to finish 8th in the NASCAR All-Star event.
AJ Allmendinger is the driver of the #47 for JTG. What does he think of the package…
What do you think about reports that NASCAR is considering the All-Star package for many races in 2019?
“I haven’t heard that. So, I haven’t really thought much about it,” AJ Allmendinger stated from the Watkins Glen media center.
“I do wish there was probably a little bit more horsepower. That would be the thing that stood out. I know, there’s a fine line to making sure there’s still closer racing.”
“But, I wish there was a little bit more horespower. Because it did make the passes tougher to complete. Qualifying is pretty dull, by yourself.”
“Definitely, it the racing a lot more competitive. More than I expected honestly. Charlotte had enough to where the tires went away and handing was just important enough. I thought that night, we got our car spot on.”
“A little bit more horsepower would help that. Yeah, I’m all for trying to make the racing closer. If it’s better for the fans, sponsors and the sport… that’s great.”
“When you add downforce like that, it closes the gap between all the teams. Right now, we got such a low aero package … When you see Stewart-Haas or Gibbs, when they find 30 counts of downforce it makes a lot bigger deal when you have a lot less downforce. Compared to when you add more downforce on the race cars.”
“I think it closes the gap up. By itself, it makes the cars easier to drive. In the race, that was as hard as I could drive. Running every lap wide open against the fence at Charlotte… I held my breath getting into the corner.”
“Kevin still won. So, you can’t say that it fixed everything. But, it does close the gap up. When you add downforce those other bits of downforce that the other teams find aren’t as big of a deal.”
Roval
“It’s gonna be interesting.”
“The only thing I wish they would maybe think about changing is the chicane on the back straight away. We enter there at 175-180 and you’re pointed at a tire barrier on the exit.”
“I tried to clip the blue curb to get some more room. I basically ripped the transmission out of the bottom of the car. I really do wish they would slow the entry down. To make a real chicane where we go down to 2nd gear. Then, you could open the exit up however you want. There’s no cutting or anything like that.”
“Make the beginning of the corner a lot more important than the exit. Track position’s going to be critical. It’s going to be tough to pass. Tires are going to be important. They started to go away pretty quick.”
“You’re going to see that fine line between bouncing off each other on the infield to make a pass. And you still need the aero. Especially, if they leave the chicane the way that it is. That’s going to be critical to making sure you still have all the fenders on the car.”
“It’s going to be a fun race. I’m looking forward to it. I’d rather have a race like that and change it up than running the oval for the third time during the year.”
“I can’t tell you if there’s going to be a ton of crashes or no crashes. But, it’s going to be exciting to watch.”