The build up to the 2019 Daytona 500 got underway yesterday in California with the first of a two-day Goodyear tire test at Auto Club Speedway.
The first drivers to see on-track action this year were Martin Truex Jr., defending champion Joey Logano and Daniel Suarez.
While it’s Truex (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Suarez’s (Stewart-Haas Racing) first time in the car with their new teams, it’s also one of the first chances drivers have gotten to experience the Cup Series’ new rules package.
With the package, which includes a tapered spacer, teams will have 550 horsepower at tracks 1.33 miles and larger, and 750 horsepower at tracks shorter than 1.33 miles. Auto Club Speedway is a 2-mile oval.
Here’s a look at how the test played out Wednesday via social media. As you can tell, the drivers didn’t keep to themselves on the track.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BscJAxojJM3/
.@joeylogano and @MartinTruex_Jr just ran about five consecutive laps in which they were side-by-side with each other nearly the entire time. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/1nCegXoDEk
— Christian Espinoza (@Christian_Racin) January 9, 2019
Time to get some tire readings #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/MqNLcWrJjW
— 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 🏁 💻 ✍🏽🎙️ (@TheCathyBrown) January 9, 2019
Let's take a lap around @ACSupdates #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/4fNaocy46A
— 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝑩𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 🏁 💻 ✍🏽🎙️ (@TheCathyBrown) January 9, 2019
Little 3-wide action happening right now @ACSupdates. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/2hTa68PXy4
— Christian Espinoza (@Christian_Racin) January 9, 2019
@joeylogano & @MartinTruex_Jr out here racing each other! They almost touched.... @ACSupdates #nascar @GoodyearRacing tire test. pic.twitter.com/GozsipQepO
— Jesse (@American83) January 9, 2019
Cool shot of @joeylogano clipping the apron underneath @MartinTruex_Jr from earlier today. The cars were certainly slower, but not as drastic as some people might think. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/JqHpWj8Vt6
— Christian Espinoza (@Christian_Racin) January 10, 2019
What does the #newpackage drive like at Fontana? @Daniel_SuarezG says it’s like a combination of the All-Star Race and the ‘16 Xfinity Series car. Could hold it wide open for 4-5 laps by self but only 2-3 laps in traffic. So he predicts track position will be massive this year. pic.twitter.com/w9Lxp7QB4s
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) January 10, 2019