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The NASCAR Cup Series will have a new variable to manage when drivers take the green flag at Iowa Speedway this weekend.
Goodyear announced Aug. 4 that Cup teams will debut a new left-side Goodyear Racing Eagle tire at the 0.875-mile oval, pairing it with the same right-side tire introduced at the D-shaped short track last season.
The updated tire package comes after a Goodyear test at Iowa in May involving Austin Dillon, Noah Gragson and Tyler Reddick, with engineers designing a more durable left-side tire capable of handling Iowa’s unique combination of high cornering speeds and heavy loads.
Despite the stronger construction, Goodyear says the tire is still expected to produce the wear and falloff that often creates strategy differences during races.
According to Goodyear, the new left-side tire features an updated construction and compound specifically created for Iowa Speedway.
Rick Heinrich, Goodyear’s NASCAR product manager, said the manufacturer worked closely with teams after gathering data during its May test.
“Iowa is challenging because of its high cornering speeds and heavy loads,” Heinrich said in a statement. “The Goodyear team has worked closely with the industry to provide a tire package that is ready for that challenge. Following our successful tire test at Iowa in May, we’re bringing a new left-side Goodyear Racing Eagle featuring an updated construction and compound to help promote more wear and fall-off.”
That final point could prove especially important.
Tire wear has become one of the biggest factors influencing race strategy across the Cup Series this season, often forcing teams to decide between fresh rubber and track position during late-race cautions.
Whenever NASCAR introduces a new tire, crew chiefs face an immediate learning curve.
Although Goodyear believes the updated construction will better withstand Iowa’s demands, teams will still need to understand how quickly the tires lose grip over a long green-flag run and whether different pit strategies emerge as the race unfolds.
If the tire delivers the intended balance between durability and falloff, it could reward teams that manage their equipment over long runs while creating additional passing opportunities as lap times begin to drop.
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, meanwhile, will use the same tire setup recently raced at Pocono Raceway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That left-side tire has also been used this season at Darlington Raceway, Rockingham Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Dover Motor Speedway.
As NASCAR returns to Iowa Speedway, Goodyear’s latest tire package could become one of the biggest storylines to watch throughout the weekend.
Continue reading...
Goodyear announced Aug. 4 that Cup teams will debut a new left-side Goodyear Racing Eagle tire at the 0.875-mile oval, pairing it with the same right-side tire introduced at the D-shaped short track last season.
The updated tire package comes after a Goodyear test at Iowa in May involving Austin Dillon, Noah Gragson and Tyler Reddick, with engineers designing a more durable left-side tire capable of handling Iowa’s unique combination of high cornering speeds and heavy loads.
Despite the stronger construction, Goodyear says the tire is still expected to produce the wear and falloff that often creates strategy differences during races.
Goodyear developed the tire following May testing
According to Goodyear, the new left-side tire features an updated construction and compound specifically created for Iowa Speedway.
Rick Heinrich, Goodyear’s NASCAR product manager, said the manufacturer worked closely with teams after gathering data during its May test.
“Iowa is challenging because of its high cornering speeds and heavy loads,” Heinrich said in a statement. “The Goodyear team has worked closely with the industry to provide a tire package that is ready for that challenge. Following our successful tire test at Iowa in May, we’re bringing a new left-side Goodyear Racing Eagle featuring an updated construction and compound to help promote more wear and fall-off.”
That final point could prove especially important.
Tire wear has become one of the biggest factors influencing race strategy across the Cup Series this season, often forcing teams to decide between fresh rubber and track position during late-race cautions.
What the new tire could mean at Iowa
Whenever NASCAR introduces a new tire, crew chiefs face an immediate learning curve.
Although Goodyear believes the updated construction will better withstand Iowa’s demands, teams will still need to understand how quickly the tires lose grip over a long green-flag run and whether different pit strategies emerge as the race unfolds.
If the tire delivers the intended balance between durability and falloff, it could reward teams that manage their equipment over long runs while creating additional passing opportunities as lap times begin to drop.
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, meanwhile, will use the same tire setup recently raced at Pocono Raceway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That left-side tire has also been used this season at Darlington Raceway, Rockingham Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Dover Motor Speedway.
As NASCAR returns to Iowa Speedway, Goodyear’s latest tire package could become one of the biggest storylines to watch throughout the weekend.
Continue reading...
