The major differences in the Le Mans entry is it is about 500 pounds (226 kg) lighter than the Cup car, has a larger fuel cell by roughly 12 gallons (45 liters) because of the length of the track, carbon brake discs and a Goodyear tire designed specifically for this race.Best Free png HD race png free download checkered flag sv images background, PNG file easily with one click Free HD PNG images, png design and transparent background with high quality The systems and components on the Le Mans model are very similar to the Next Gen car, although this one has functioning headlights and taillights. France immediately appeased the industry by granting access to any data collected by Hendrick and Chevrolet, but as project lead Chad Knaus tried to build a car worthy of its spot in the race, the final product has been heavily modified from what is currently being used in the Cup Series. The project was briefly controversial in NASCAR because Ford, Toyota and all the teams were blindsided last March when France announced he was taking a car to Le Mans with Hendrick, Chevrolet and Goodyear, the winningest team, manufacturer and tire maker in the series’ 75 years.Īt issue was that the project involved a brand new car, and the collaborators would have unprecedented access to the Next Gen while everyone else was subjected to stringent testing rules. One of the slow zones, it was a very crowded area with the fans – they were waving at me so I was waving back. “It was incredible,” Johnson said after his nearly hour-long stint.

Even so, the Hendrick crew set a goal of at least finishing the race, and maybe even beating cars from other classes. That put the car 39th for the start, but because NASCAR is running its second-year Next Gen car in the specialized “Innovative Car” class designed to showcase technology and development, the entry is not competing against any other cars. His qualifying lap was rewarded when race officials decided the “Garage 56” entry would not start last in the field as planned the Chevy was moved ahead of the 21 entries in the GTE class because of the speed discrepancy. The NASCAR effort has wowed all week - its V8 engine growls and is far louder than any other entry in the 62-car field - and Rockenfeller qualified it more than three seconds faster than the entire GTE AM class.

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