Brudenell: Michigan's aero package was a drag on drivers, crew chiefs

BROOKLYN, Mich. — It was so hot in the cars at the Irish Hills on Sunday, one of the TV commentators said you could cook an egg in the cockpit.
The heat could also be felt on the pit boxes, where crew chiefs could have been forgiven for becoming delusional.

What to do with the high-drag aero package Sprint Cup teams inherited at Michigan International Speedway for the Pure Michigan 400?
It drove crew chiefs cuckoo during practice and qualifying and some drivers in the race, who would close up on the car in front of them and then get loose, losing position.
One step forward, two steps back.

Michigan race package draws muted response from NASCAR drivers

Michigan has never been an easy track to pass at, but it was extra tough Sunday.
Why did Matt Kenseth stay out front?
He started on the pole and really never had to pass anyone.
He led 146 laps of 200, romping away in his No. 20 Toyota whenever he was challenged.

Matt Kenseth wins Pure Michigan 400

NASCAR wanted the high-drag package to work, hoping it would make for more passing, closer racing and exciting lead changes.
On Friday, they said they would keep the current 2015 aero package for the Chase, but haven’t announced what 2016 may look like.
On Sunday, some drivers radioed to their crew chiefs they were out of control; others couldn’t make an inch of ground.
Meanwhile, Kenseth kept dominating. Well, unless Austin Dillon, who finished fourth for Richard Childress Racing, was making a couple superman moves to pass him down low.

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The field just couldn’t catch Kenseth, who recorded his 34th career Sprint Cup victory and his first at Michigan since August 2006.
When they tried, most times their cars got wobbly in the turbulence created by the high-drag package.
Overall, the high-drag aero didn’t work at Indianapolis a couple weeks ago or MIS, though NASCAR must get some points for trying something new.
Michigan has always been about speed and three- and four-wide racing in the sweeping turns.
There were moments on restarts where drivers did attempt to run side by side, but, it mostly didn’t work.

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Young Dillon made a few bold moves in his Chevy entering the turns, but ran out of momentum just as he seemed to have Kenseth’s measure.
In the end, Kenseth’s No. 1 qualifying position and good pit stops earned him the win at MIS.
His Joe Gibbs Racing car had plenty of engine but starting up front really was the difference between him going to victory lane Sunday or chasing someone else.