NASCAR: Configuration tests yielding results - Keselowski

NASCAR has decided to use parts of the 2016 season as a test for future rule configurations, and Brad Keselowski likes what he's seen so far.

The experimenting started last month at Charlotte Motor Speedway when NASCAR ordered a few aerodynamic changes just for the non-points Sprint All-Star Race. The most notable alteration was setting the initial static rear toe to zero degrees, intending to reduce sideforce by rear skew.

These changes were not utilized during the Coca-Cola 600 last weekend and Keselowski said that made passing more difficult as a result.

"I am 100 percent of the belief that the all-star rules package as it pertains to some of the really technical items that control the skew on the car should immediately be implemented everywhere," Keselowski said.

The 2012 champion said the skew adds anywhere from five to 10 percent aero potential in the car and increases the wake (think turbulence) for a trailing driver. In other words, taking out the skew creates more of a slipstream scenario for passing opportunities.

"It's the difference between following a car on the freeway and following a truck," Keselowski said. "That is the easiest explanation. The difference I felt between the two races was that the aerodynamic weight that you can't see, because it is air, was smaller and more forgiving in the all-star race and I think that is why you saw the racing you did in that race and not so much in the 600."

Even though those changes haven't been mandated for the rest of the season, NASCAR has a few moe experiments to try over the next few weeks. NASCAR will further reduce downforce for the June 12 race at Michigan International Speedway and the July 9 race at Kentucky Speedway.

The modifications for those events consist of a reduction in spoiler height from 3.5 inches to 2.5 inches, a splitter reduction of two inches and a resizing of the rear deck fin to complement the spoiler change.

Keselowski said he appreciates NASCAR efforts to continue minimizing downforce from the Sprint Cup cars and believes the tour is trending in the right direction.

"I think we have a really strong direction," Keselowski said. "It is great that we were able to run those two races back-to-back on the same track to get a comparison and hopefully everyone else in the sport can agree on that, which I'm sure is a zero percent possibility.

"But I am a big-time supporter of continuing to take the aerodynamics away from the car to increase the ability to pass in the race."