Talladega a joke

[hdolan]

Pole speed = 185+

[dog-ring]

[jolly]

NASCAR

Racin' or Wreckin'?

Which sells the most tickets?

[ October 20, 2001: Message edited by: jolly ]

[indyracefan]

I don't mind the 180 mph so much as the restrictor plates,...or more importantly, what the plates do to the racing.

A good example of how it used to be compared to how it is now, is by watching the Trucks race at Daytona. Remember the 'slingshot'?!?!

[ October 20, 2001: Message edited by: indyracefan ]

[Railbird]

Hey, at least they practiced the "big one" yesterday.

I always enjoy listening to the guys that "charge to the back" trying to stay out of trouble.

Just hope everybody gets through the day healthy.

[indyracefan]

Originally posted by Railbird:
<STRONG>Hey, at least they practiced the "big one" yesterday.
Just hope everybody gets through the day healthy.</STRONG>

yup, aint that the truth?! And the one time where my driver(Terry Labonte) had the fastest car of the session and there was actually a 'ray of hope',.....now it's to the back of the field where even the brave fear to tread!!!

I echo your sentiments that they all come home at the end of the day to complain about it!!

[jandj]

Good thing they practiced it yesterday so they could be sure they got it right today .

[indyracefan]

don't get me wrong as I'm a Labonte fan(Terry first though ), but Bobby gets the bonehead award.

Glad no-one was seriously hurt, but where did Bobby think he was going to go after taking Hamilton high?!?

I'll bet Rusty will be up on the soap-box again, as he should.

[StatMan]

I don't really like the current state of restrictor-plate racing which bunches up 30 cars within 3 seconds of each other. On the other hand, I wouldn't like brining back the old "slingshot" if that was accomplished by any special device or aero rule. The less different they make 'Dega and Daytona from other big tracks, the better.

I understand not wanting them going 225 and stuff. But, come on, let 'em run 200-210 mph there and let the fast cars have an advantage over the slower ones.

As The Man In Black said, "Don't come here and grumble about going too fast - get the he** out of the car..."

-StatMan

[rev-ed]

I decided to treat the race just like the drivers do. I checked in every 40 laps or so, then watched the last 10. Best way to watch it. Probably the best way to drive it too.

[dog-ring]

I bounced back and forth between the race and the Colts game,or lack thereof Sterlin said it best in his interview:"Let us run 200 mph and then the good cars will go to the front and we can race"

[TrackGoddess]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think Kevin Harvick needs to be taken back of the woodshed and given a whuppin'?

[Lee Roy]

I just don't like darned restrictor plate racing.

[jolly]

I was watching a legends show featuring the Petty's on Foxsports the other night that showed the Daytona finish where Richard and David Pearson tangled on the final lap. Pearson righted his car and limped across the line for the win. One of the greatest finishes in NASCAR history.

If current rules had been in effect, those two guys would have finished 38th and 39th.

[Lee Roy]

Originally posted by jolly:
<STRONG>I was watching a legends show featuring the Petty's on Foxsports the other night that showed the Daytona finish where Richard and David Pearson tangled on the final lap. Pearson righted his car and limped across the line for the win. One of the greatest finishes in NASCAR history.

If current rules had been in effect, those two guys would have finished 38th and 39th. </STRONG>

I was at that race. Had a seat at the S/F line. I remember what good racing at Daytona and Talladega was like. That fiasco yesterday was not goo racing.

[tnindyman]

What little interest I've had lately in NASCAR left Sunday. What a joke. Let's take all of the aero stuff off, narrow the tires by 1 to 2 inches and let em race re: Perarson and Petty.

Also, if little E gets to keep the million, it's really a joke. Give it to the fan, but not E. If I'm some guy who had never won, just drop in some big block engine, blow em off, WIN, and get a fine. Still won though.

It's time to get back to racing.

[Lucky161]

Don't forget that 200mph+ is an area where the chance of a car getting into the grandstands goes up dramatically. First time a 3500 pound car gets fully into the stands at speed will be the last race we ever see there and possibly at any superspeedway. Are we ready to put it all on the line? Insurance companies and politicians are not going to be able to tell a difference from one form to another.

[mnkywrch]

When I think a good restrictor plate race is good because no one got killed or went to the hospital, then something's wrong.

We had tickets to the Pepsi 400 (at Daytona) and got rid of them as we were sick of the contrived "racing".

The drivers underestimate the power they have. I wouldn't be able to head out race morning, look at my wife & kids, and go out there, knowing full well there's a pretty good chance I'm going to crash into something or someone at 170+ mph.

Maybe that's why I'm not a race car driver.

[Racewriter]

Simple solution. Take down the banks.

[BADGER]

Cars running side by side, lap after lap with not enough power to complete the pass and with excessive downforce that the drivers are mandated to run, what is not to like? How amusing to see dog and monkey rave about this sort of action in the IRL, yet complain about it in NASCAR. And before I hear about the Handford device, let me state that I am not a fan of it and much preferred the MI races before this was needed. The finish between Pruet and Unser was still one of the greatest finishes ever. Don't get me wrong, I like near photo finishes, I prefer that it is the result of equal driving in equal cars, not because it is impossible to pull away from the pack.

[ October 22, 2001: Message edited by: BADGER ]

[Lee Roy]

Originally posted by Racewriter:
<STRONG>Simple solution. Take down the banks.</STRONG>

Bingo!!

WC runs on 4 oval tracks 2.5 miles or more longer. At Talladega and Daytona they need restrictor plates, and at Indy and Pocono they don't. Seems pretty darn simple to me.

And if ISC bemoans the construction cost of the "alterations", they could charge the teams extra entry fees to offset the costs. Would probably be cheaper for the teams than having to pay for a separate engine development program just for "plate motors".

[dog-ring]

Originally posted by BADGER:
<STRONG>Cars running side by side, lap after lap with not enough power to complete the pass and with excessive downforce that the drivers are mandated to run, what is not to like? How amusing to see dog and monkey rave about this sort of action in the IRL, yet complain about it in NASCAR. And before I hear about the Handford device, let me state that I am not a fan of it and much preferred the MI races before this was needed. The finish between Pruet and Unser was still one of the greatest finishes ever. Don't get me wrong, I like near photo finishes, I prefer that it is the result of equal driving in equal cars, not because it is impossible to pull away from the pack.

[ October 22, 2001: Message edited by: BADGER ]</STRONG>

There's a little bit of difference in five cars running for the lead in the IRL versus 43 in NASCAR Badger. At least someone is challenging for the lead in these race series.

[StatMan]

BADGER, can you really not tell the difference between restrictor-plate racing and rev-limiter racing????

Hmmm....I wonder what would happen if NASCAR used rev-limiters instead of restrictor-plates at Daytona and Talladega?

-StatMan

[Lee Roy]

Originally posted by StatMan:
<STRONG>Hmmm....I wonder what would happen if NASCAR used rev-limiters instead of restrictor-plates at Daytona and Talladega?

-StatMan</STRONG>

HAHAHAH. Or maybe pop-off valves. With spacers, of course.

[mnkywrch]

Originally posted by Lee Roy:
<STRONG>

Bingo!!

WC runs on 4 oval tracks 2.5 miles or more longer. At Talladega and Daytona they need restrictor plates, and at Indy and Pocono they don't. Seems pretty darn simple to me.

And if ISC bemoans the construction cost of the "alterations", they could charge the teams extra entry fees to offset the costs. Would probably be cheaper for the teams than having to pay for a separate engine development program just for "plate motors".</STRONG>

I wouldn't exactly be trying for more WC races like the Brickyard 400. IMO, the race is a snoozer.

I'd rather they dirty the air on the cars and give them back some HP.

[BADGER]

Statman "On the other hand, I wouldn't like brining back the old "slingshot" if that was accomplished by any special device or aero rule."

"BADGER, can you really not tell the difference between restrictor-plate racing and rev-limiter racing????
Hmmm....I wonder what would happen if NASCAR used rev-limiters instead of restrictor-plates at Daytona and Talladega?"

Actually, when the slingshot originated, there were no artificial rules or special devices to enhance the draft. Perhaps NASCAR should go to those wonderful rev limiters. Somehow, I have missed the suttle differences between a rev limiter kicking in and a stocker hitting a wall of drag. Either way, there usually is not enough power or revs left to complete the pass.

mnkywrch "I'd rather they dirty the air on the cars and give them back some HP."

Gee, I hate to break it to you Mnkywrch, but that is exactly the last thing that NASCAR tried. You don't think those vertical fences mounted on the roof were to increase downforce do you?

[Racewriter]

As far as rev-limiters are concerned, current restrictor plate motors struggle to turn over 7000 RPM. The engine simply won't flow the air to support it. An unrestricted Cup engine will still make over 600 HP at 6500 RPM, so you'd basically have to limit them to "fast idle" to reduce the HP enough for Daytona and Talladega.

Yep, dirty air and higher HP was EXACTLY what has given us the current package. Bottom line is that the cars are too fast for the tracks. Reduce banking - even to 20 degrees would cut an unrestricted lap to a shade under or over 200 MPH, and would require lifting.

[MM658]

Make 'em run stock noses, grill openings and all, not the smooth round fiberglass-late-model-body-style noses that they run now, with decals instead of grills. Also, get those noses up in the air, not inches off the track like they are now.

That'll help dirty up the air and slow them down.

[nem]

Originally posted by Lucky161:
<STRONG>Don't forget that 200mph+ is an area where the chance of a car getting into the grandstands goes up dramatically. First time a 3500 pound car gets fully into the stands at speed will be the last race we ever see there and possibly at any superspeedway. Are we ready to put it all on the line? Insurance companies and politicians are not going to be able to tell a difference from one form to another.</STRONG>

Lucky- You hit the nail right on the head. Why is it so few posters recognise the basic issue and why there are restrictor plates in the first place. For sure the politicians wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a short track, a superspeedway, and a road course. An insurance company, maybe?

Racewriter's comment was almost right. The speed of unrestricted cars at Daytona/Talledega exceed the shape of the cars when they get sideways. Not the speed of the racetracks. An open wheel car sideways at 210mph doesn't liftoff of it's own accord like a stockcar does.

By the way, it was my understanding a NWC car is 3400lbs. Is that wrong?

Nem

[Lucky161]

I think you are right about that 3400 lb figure. I was just approximating in my post.

A lot of people seem to think that nascar has not been listening or working on this problem. That is absolute inaccurate. They hear and they would love to do something about it. The problem is that most suggestions would either not work or be very very expensive.