1996 Kranefuss Lincoln Winston Cup Test

Very interesting read, you really do learn something new everyday. Any of you guys know about the Kranefuss team testing a Winston Cup spec Mark VIII at Charlotte in 1996? Apparently Ford was seriously considering replacing the T-Bird with it. No joke. It was also really fast and even set some of the fastest times of the session. I know Rusty won a few races with a car he called "hotrod Lincoln"; it was one of the (or the) chassis used as a base for the Mark VII bodywork. Penske just put the Tbird body back on it. Apparently the Mark was more aerodynamic but Ford didnt want Lincoln to have a racing image. Oh well, what could have been....

Here's the links:

http://www.markviii.org/LOD2/nascar.htm
http://articles.dailypress.com/1996-05-22/sports/9605220003_1_lincoln-mark-viii-nascar-spokesman-kevin-triplett-luxury-cars

I remember Penske considering racing them years back, but I didn't realize Kranefuss also was involved too