NASCAR has unveiled a series of rule changes for the 2015 season including a ban on all private testing.
From next year teams will only be able to test at Goodyear or NASCAR sanctioned tests with the association threatening severe penalties for any team caught testing outside these parameters.
NASCAR has confirmed the punishment for breaching the ban is a P6 penalty which carries a 150 point deduction, a minimum $150,000 fine and a six week suspension for team personnel.
The annual pre Daytona 500 three-day test has also been scrapped.
As a result, NASCAR will now send drivers across the country on a promotional tour during that period.
NASCAR had previously sanctioned unlimited testing at circuits currently not on the racing schedule. However, officials are confident in policing the new ban.
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“They (the teams) say ‘it cost a ton of money, takes a ton of time, a ton of resources,” said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR Vice President of Innovation and Racing.
“We won’t put a bodyguard with each team and follow them around but thinking that people will let you know (if anyone breaks the rule).”
A reduction in horsepower produced from the engines has been ratified for next season with a tapered spacer likely to cut power down to approximately 725bhp instead of the previous 850bhp.
In conjunction with new differential ratios the changes are likely to slow the cars by 8kph-11kph in most cases.
Cars will also run with a lower rear spoiler with the height set to be limited to six inches instead of eight.
NASCAR has meanwhile ratified the use of in-car adjustable track bars for next season, adding to the brake bias and tyre cooling fan tools already available to drivers looking to tune their cars mid-run.
Following the lead of the Nationwide Series and Truck Series, rain tyres will now be used in Sprint Cup races at Sonoma and Watkins Glen road courses.
Qualifying is also set to undergo a revamp with the first segment due to be reduced on short and intermediate circuits to a 15 minute session. The field will be split into two groups for qualifying on superspeedways.
Road course qualifying will be contested over a 25 minute session followed by a 10 minute hit out.
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