NASCAR has reminded its drivers too keep their hands on the wheel, but not just for safety.
The series has updated its rules to ban drivers from using their left hand as an aerodynamic device during qualifying.
Drivers often hold their hand up to block the space between the roof pillar and the window net in an attempt to get a small aerodynamic advantage on superspeedways.
The technique was highlighted when Joey Logano was spotted at Atlanta in 2024 wearing a glove that had webbing added between the thumb and forefinger to enhance the effect.
He was penalized and fined for wearing unapproved equipment, but not for the action of blocking the window itself, which was allowed at the time. The new rule is clear that this will no longer be the case.
“As determined by NASCAR, once a vehicle exits pit road during a Qualifying attempt, the driver’s hands may not be used to redirect air in any manner including but not limited to, touching the window net, blocking air from entering the cockpit, redirecting air from the window, etc. Non-compliance will result in loss of Qualifying time,” it says.
Of course, by specifying “hands” the rule does potentially leave the door open to clever workarounds, but the intent is clear and NASCAR would likely address similar methods as soon as they are attempted.
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