When Joey Logano headed to the Charlotte Motor Speedway for his first test for the 2013 season, he was given a dose of something old and new.
New in working with his new team, Penske Racing and the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil group led by crew chief Todd Gordon. Old, because Logano was back behind the wheel of a Ford, the first time since he drove one in the Hooters Pro Cup Series back in 2005. [media-credit name=”Credit: CMS/HHP” align=”alignright” width=”208″]
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“There are a lot of new things. Obviously, I’m with a new team, but another big thing is I had never driven the 2013 car yet, so I have some things to learn in both directions,” said Logano at Charlotte on how things were going.
“I think Todd and I are working good together and learning each other. I think he’s trying to figure out when I say it’s tight, how tight is it? He’s trying to get a reference on the magnitude of adjustments we need to make, so I think we’re getting there. We’re making some changes on the car. We still need a little bit more speed in it, which you’ll never have enough because you’re always working on that more and more.
“So far, so good. I think we’ve had some good direction to go back to the shop and work on and try to find some more.”
The two-time NSCS winner just returned from a USO trip with Nationwide Series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. They two visited troops in Kuwait and Germany, eye opening visits to different parts of the world. It was something Logano said, he was happy to do for them because of all they do for us.
Now back home, his short offseason has come to a close. Following four seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing the 22-year-old is getting a fresh start with the organization coming off their first NSCS championship.
Now working with new teammate Brad Keselowski, the two have already set up game plans and have sat down to talk about the cars and other such things. One of the biggest complaints Logano has for Keselowski, the new NSCS champion, is that he thinks outside the box, way outside the box, and Logano enjoys seeing how his mind works.
“The lines of communication have been very open between both teams and I’m really excited about that. I think that’s definitely one of the biggest things I like over there right now,” stated Logano on his new surroundings and organization.
“That’s definitely cool having Brad working with me and vice versa. I think it’s gonna be good. I’m excited about it. They include me a lot, even with the decisions on personnel, so I like how they include the driver a lot.”
Even though Logano and others are working in new places this upcoming season, the focus of this week’s testing was NASCAR’s new Generation 6 – or G6 as they’re being nicknamed – cars.
The two-day test saw drivers running by themselves and in packs, with NASCAR even reducing the horsepower on the cars for a session. Logano was impressed no matter what the changes were, noting the increased horsepower and downforce on the cars. Something that he feels will make the racing better and give teams the opportunity to fine-tune the cars more.
But, his initial reaction of the car with the reduced horsepower: “it was like a Nationwide car on steroids, and then when they took the horsepower away I said, ‘Oh, it’s like a Nationwide car.’”
Exactly what he thought it would be, except he loves the horsepower part and as a driver, prefers that any day. Considering that he won nine NNS races in 2012, he most likely felt comfortable behind the wheel. However, when it comes to working in traffic, the new car provides some challenges and Logano believes drivers will have to make personal changes to their driving style for the new year.
“I think we’ve got to fine-tune it still into being able to race better. You always want to keep the racing as good as possible and that’s the whole reason to get this ’13 car out there is to hopefully improve the racing,” said Logano.
“I feel like it was good for us to go out there, run in a pack, and see what it’s like. I know some of the things I used to use to pass cars, some of the tools I would use, doesn’t really work anymore, so I kind of learn and try something else. I think throughout the whole field drivers are gonna have to be doing that – to find new ways to pass guys and changes things up because these cars are different.
“I think there will be some more fine-tuning to try and help us race around each other easier throughout the year.”
