Matt Kenseth says NASCAR Sprint Cup cars now too forgiving

Compared to 2011, the Cup season has seen 40 fewer cautions periods up to this point of the year. Many races at intermediate tracks where cars are more aero-dependent have finished with less than a third of the field on the lead lap and a number of drivers unable to get back in contention after slow starts.

While the current specification of Cup car has now been in place for almost five years since it was first implemented, NASCAR has constantly tweaked aero rules while teams have been able to find more downforce through windtunnel testing.

"Right now the cars are difficult to drive, they're just more forgiving than the older cars to catch," said Kenseth. "When you do stuff on the edge or get it sideways you just have a lot of side-force, [which] helps you catch the car.

"I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing to not wreck as much but I think that lends a little bit into having less accidents, less yellows and stuff.

"I think the racing is pretty good how it is right now but I'd be in favour of having less side-force, less rear downforce and making the cars a little looser, a little less aero-dependent, work a little bit more on mechanical grip, make it a little bit tougher to drive.

"I've always liked that better, when we can have our cars like that and just squash into the racetrack so hard.

"I wouldn't mind trying that, but I know everyone would have a different idea on that. I've always like sort of the older rules, when we had smaller spoiler and less downforce."

Kenseth's view echoes those of a number of Cup drivers who have pointed at aerodynamics as the cause of less eventful races this season.

Two weeks ago NASCAR mandated the lower extensions of the bodywork on the both sides of the car to be raised slightly with the aim of reducing downforce, but the change, tested at Charlotte Cup events, has shown little impact thus far.