ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 13, 1996 TAG: 9606130041
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: AUTO RACING NOTES
SOURCE: BOB ZELLER STAFF WRITER
Chevrolet teams in the Winston Cup series are cautiously optimistic that NASCAR's recent rules changes will help them compete with the Fords.
And if the Ford teams are complaining again, the Chevy folks have no sympathy.
``It makes me feel good that Ford is upset with the quarter of an inch Chevrolet got'' on the front air dam and rear spoiler for the Pocono and Michigan races, said Darrell Waltrip, a Chevy driver. ``Here I am trying to make up miles, and they're worried about a quarter of an inch.
``The dyno tests have proven they've got more horsepower than we've got,'' Waltrip said. ``That's why they've cried downforce. They've got so much more horsepower than we've got, they need more downforce to handle the power.
``For everything to be equal again, we need the same size spoiler and we need the same air dam.''
With the most recent changes, Ford's air dam will be 3.5 inches off the ground; Chevy's will be 3.75 inches. And Ford's spoiler will be 6.5 inches high compared to Chevy's 6 inches.
Jimmy Makar, the crew chief for Bobby Labonte's No.18 Chevy, said the car wasn't any quicker with the new equipment on comparative runs at the 2.5-mile Pocono track, which has been repaved. ``But the car was a lot more comfortable for the driver,'' he said. ``The car really stuck better in the corners, and I think it'll be great for racing. I don't think our car will be sliding up the track like it did all day at Charlotte.''
In other auto racing news:
TRICKLE IN DONLAVEY FORD: As expected, Dick Trickle has been named to replace Mike Wallace as the driver in Richmond-based Junie Donlavey's No.90 Ford Thunderbird.
Wallace was released from the ride Monday.
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Trickleby CNB