...what would it be? The old points format back? The top 35 qualifying 'lock in' to be chucked out?
Mine isn't really going to be much of a surprise...unless they actually did it in which case it would then be a huge surprise.
Mexico City, Montreal, Sonoma and Watkins Glen; the four tracks where the Cup and/or Bu...uh, Nationwide cars have to turn left as well as right. They also tend to come under fire from people as strategy plays the main role, more so than on the usual ovals. However, when things go right, they also can throw up the most exciting races...the '07 Watkins Glen race missed out on my 'Race of the Year' by a whisker, mainly since Nurburgring had that amazing, wheel-####ing dual between Fernando and Felipe for the win while the only wheel-####ing Jeff Gordon was doing was whacking his head repeatedly on the steering wheel after throwing away the race.
But I'm not asking for more road courses, no. My point is that since next year is the last year for the 'normal' cars in the Nationwide series (assuming they do switch in '09 that is) and the first full year with the new car for the Cup guys...that makes 2008 the best opportunity to correct the one thing that royally ticked me off this year; wet weather.
There is absolutely, without question, no reason why NASCAR can't race in the rain on their road courses. V8 Supercars do it, Formula 1 do it, Champ Car do it...even the bloody MotoGP bikes can handle wet conditions, yet, despite having a roof (something F1, CCWS and bikes don't), NASCAR cancel the sessions to wait for Mother Nature to let up.
What's good enough for the rest of the world apparantly isn't for NASWUSS...uh, NASCAR
Yes, that kind of weather isn't the best with the fans at the track (been there, done that) but the slippery conditions bring out the best in the drivers...and isn't that what racing is all about?
So my '2008 one thing' would be to see the cars roll out on every road course with lights, wipers and Goodyear to have brought some wets just in case of adverse weather (they should remember how to make them from their F1 days). It won't happen of course, but I don't mind...just means the drivers will remain soft whenever someone spills their beer on the track *shrugs*
Nascar does hav the capeabilty to race in rain. In fact on more than one time, they have fitted wiper blades as well as rain tires on the cars. I agree that would make for an itersting and fun "at least as a fan" race.
If they made it a set rule cars had to have the blades, light in the rear window "wich they have done", and GOODYEAR to have rain tires at the track, it would be easy.
Good post and it is easly possible.
Oooo a blog that got it completely right, and NASCAR might even count me as a fan if they raced rain or shine. ALMS is another series in the States that races in the wet, and I've become a big fan as of late (I've been to the last two years in Elkhart Lake, WI).
As for my wishes in '08, I'm hoping for a Kimster repeat in F1. That will make a certain race fan Down Under continue to eat his words about the Iceman being a Car-Breaker. ;)
I like the idea, but I dont think it would work. First, you would need to put wipers on all of the cars, as mentioned in some of the previous posts. What happens if the wipers fail to work? What happens if a wiper breaks? Are you going to put wipers on the rear window as well? Etc. There are parts failures for every team, almost every weekend. That would be a significant issue, if the wipers failed. The other problem, is that you likely need a brake light, in the back window. Since visibility would dramatically decrease when you were behind another car, or group of cars. The one problem with that is you cant trust it. What I mean by that, is, if I was the driver, I would constantly "mess" with whoever was behind me. Tap the brake for no reason to mess him up, leave my foot lightly resting on the brake pedal, so that my brake light is constantly illuminated, things like that. It is easier just to wait for the rain to stop.
Somehow I think the bloggers are missing the point. Yes they could race in the rain,all that is needed is to chemical coat the windshieslds like aircraft so rain blows off over 35 mph.
There are no brakelights on racing vehicles period. Formula 1 uses a pulsating red light only. Just an FYI guys.
Good post TEZ -- Yes, I have often wondered the same thing, how come NASCAR can't /won't race road courses in the rain, and F1 does? Especially since it seems the NASCAR vehicles would be a bit safer than the F1 cars.
Yeah, maybe NASCAR won't be looking at that option, but you have to admit as a racing fan, some of those F1 races in the rain have been mind boggling to say the least. Certainly keeps you glued to your chair, wondering what the heck is going to happen next.
I have only been to one road course event during the rain...Elkhart Wisc, many years ago. And...I didn't mind the rain at all, it actually made the event more interesting in my opinion (of course it wasn't raining buckets either). So I agree...let's go road course racing in the rain!
Hey Tez, excellent post. I completely agree with you on this one.
whocares224 - what are you talking about? if the wipers were to fail to work or break, then you go to the pits and fix them just like they do now when something breaks or doesn't work. well, unless you're tony stewart than you just hope it fixes itself. and the brake light, again, if it malfunctions or doesn't work, you go in and fix it. and if you were on the track and your strategy was to "leave your foot lightly resting on the brake pedal so your brake light is constantly illuminated". i would follow you around until your brakes crumbled off the car, than i would drive by you ever so slowly so you could see me laughing at you because your idiotic strategy backfired on you. you see, when you do something like that your brake pads are actually making contact with the rotor thus heating up your brake pads, rotors and everything else in that immediate area, which if you do this long enough will result in a failing brake system. which of course will end one of two ways. you either A.) can't slow down going into the corners which will probably result in a crash, probably taking someone else with you. or B.) brake pads and rotors crumble off the car throwing debris all over the place, which one of those pieces will probably hit and damage your car in another area, thus taking you out of the race.
Give me Jason Leffler winning the Nationwide Series championship without changing one thing about the series, just so everyone will shut the hell up about what's "wrong" with the Busch Series.
(Marcos Ambrose would be an OK champ, too. ;) )
Last edited by JayJayDean on December 27th at 2:54 PM.
1. Destroy the guaranteed starting spot rules. The fastest cars race.
2. Publish the rules.
3. I like your race in the rain on road courses rule. Afterall, the road courses saw some of the best racing of the past season.
4. Eliminate the restrictor plates and achieve slower speeds some other way.
5. Shorten most of the races, or speed the cars up.
6. Continue keeping their heads outta their a$$es with regard to safety - and accelerate change in car design, track design and equipment, and safety equipment and crews - still a long way to go to catch up with most other major forms of racing.
You would have to get NASCAR fans to accept sitting in the rain just to watch cars go around at half speed. Good luck with that.
The lap times at a road course in the rain would probably be 3 or 4 minutes a lap. That's a long, wet wait just to watch the leaders go by for the 10 seconds that they're in sight at a road course.
LOL! JayJayDean said, "Shut the hell up." Dave can't count to one--he listed six. We're a great group aren't we? I know, JayJay. Now you want me to shut the hell up. Still, it's pretty funny.
Novara48, you are missing the point completely, so I'll break it down for you.
1) Goodyear already brings 10 trucks of tires in for all of the events (I'm gussing on 10, but they have a lot). Now, if you are going to bring the tires that they use now, the ones with no tread on them, as well as bring rain tires, the ones with tread on them, you are going to need a lot of trucks. If it doesnt rain, you wasted all of that fuel to bring tires that you didnt even use.
2) I wasnt implying that 100% of the time I would leave my foot on the brake pedal, and even if I did, that doesnt mean that the brake pads, are touching the rotor. There is a little play in the pedal.
3) You couldnt drive by me slowly, "so I could see you laughing", because you would have a helmet on, and no one can see your face, when you are wearing a helmet.
4) Yes, you would have to go to the pits to fix a malfunction, I never meant to imply you wouldnt. All I am saying, is a malfunction, of a part, that doesnt need to be on the car anyways, is going to #### people off. Just like when Robbie Gordon's on board camera caught on fire, and ended his race, at a road course. It wasnt equipment that needed to be on the car, it was there for the viewing audience, and it killed his chance for a win
O.K. - this whole "what would you wish for" thing comes to a screeching halt NOW.
whocares224 - you have crossed the line, son. Including a photo, which has clearly been doctored, of Peyton Manning picking his nose is grotesquely wrong. Not just wrong, ... GROTESQUELY wrong.
I am forced to search the web for a photo of Tom Brady with some other type of appendage in some other orifice on his face (I guarantee you it's not a finger in a nose ...) - and, should I fail to find it, will resort to doctoring one up - cuz where I'm from, two wrongs make a right.
Disgustedly,
Dave
p.s. - your comments about the rain tires requiring too many trucks are silly (yes, GROTESQUELY silly). If they needed ten trucks for standard slicks (I'm guessing it's more like 4) they'd need only 2 or 3 for rain tires - minimal practice on them, if any, and would only use one or two compounds/tread designs (heavy water, wet/dry track). But that hardly matters now - - off to the various Tom Brady metro/bi-$exual photo galleries ...
Last edited by Dave_in_Indy on December 28th at 7:53 AM.
No, no, no, Dave. Everyone is waiting for the picture you are going to come up with of "you know who" to counter the one of Manning. BTW, Manning is my fav! (Peyton)
I make this a long one and make up for Hotfootlori's going missing. lol
Sorry for late comment.- I like a few. I would love to see NASCAR do it like the V8 with 3 small races in a weekend at a track. Qulfying on Firday to make sure your car can reach racing speeds only the first race on Saturday 150 laps will be open to all drivers who reach a racing speed.
Now we got a race for all to race there way into Sundays show. Top 15 of race one will go the back to start the next race. winner being last and etc.
Sunday they Start 100 lap race at at 1:00 and now the top 10 go to the back for the start of the 3rd and last race for 50 laps under the lights if needed. Thats 300 laps broken up.
Now what the driver won't know is out of the 3 races which one will be given more points for the win and etc. So we will have 3 scoring points system for 3 races.
Lets face it, Which race is the most exciting is the the allstar, cause its a 3 short race shoot out.
The 500 mile races is just showing how well the teams can make a motor last. Now we got some who will put put around the superspeedways and just turn it on at the end. Not a fan of seeing them race in the rain. It will be to hard to watch the races. Great post Tez,
Last edited by Forensic2 on December 28th at 6:47 PM.
WOW Dave, obsess much, LOL. I could care less what pic you find on the net of Tom Brady, why would I care??? Only a
H
O
M
O
would care that much about it. And why would it be "wrong"? Anyways, if that Manning photo was doctored, take it up with the people at ProFootballTalk.com. There humor is clearly different from yours
whocares224, holding down on the brake pedal will work maybe once, after you cry wolf in NASCAR once you will get plowed into the next time. It wont matter all cause the wipers will never keep the windshield clear enought for them to drive on ovals.
They can hardly see out them now with all the bugs and tire rubber, And now you got to turn on your wipers to clear it. The wipers will need a scraper first and rubber after to clear it for them to see.
It would be nice to see different racing in "08" but I really don't feel it will be any different than it was in "07"
Racing in the rain. It would be cooler but wipers would be an issue to over come. Tear offs would become more inportant than in the past.
Improvements in safety is paramont with out a doubt.
Qualifying on speed is dreadfully needed. Certainly getting in on top35s or provisionals is antique thinking.
Shorter races is a great idea. Frees up time for other issues on the weekend.
Updating the powertrains to reflect what is on the street cars is a neat idea. When was the last time you saw a new car with a Carb. and a V8 engine?
Still I would like to see other drivers win the championship instead of Johnson. Which brings up the question, Is any of the other drivers and teams capable of doing it?
Last edited by photogr on December 28th at 7:44 PM.
Whocares - I'll put aside my photos of Tom B. taking it in a variety of orifices, as I now recognize the beauty of a simple appreciation of athletic achievement (regardless of sexual preference - for that matters not one little bit).
Go Patriots.
Having said that, the top 35 guaranteed qualifying thing still needs to go. That's totally ####.
Lori -- I can TOTALLY relate to your frustration with those WHOOPS. I voted for the GGW awards to Forensic...and my whole message got WHOOPS. What a pain in the you know what. Seems like when you retype your message, it is never quite the same as the original.
wow, go away for a couple of days and I miss everything, lol
our V8's have both the wipers (they're compulsory on every car along with the brake light) while some choose to leave them switched off and use that chemical stuff that Rickey108 mentioned (I think Ingall was the first to try that some 5 or so years ago in the V8's).
messing with the brakes like that is fine....the drivers should know the layout of the track and just drive right by you anyway so that's no problem
mechanical failures have always been part of racing anyway and if the rain gets too heavy come in and get someone to clean the windscreen during a pitstop for you just like the V8's do, it's rather simple.
3 or 4 minutes a lap? Bathurst is that and we get rain during that race nearly every year....maybe NASCAR fans just need to toughen up if they can't handle some drizzle :P
oh, Marcos was equal #1 on my list....but I thought that might be considered favouritism so I went with wet races instead, JJD ;)
I dont think that the qualifying rules are really as big of a deal as everyone thinks. True, some cars go home, when their qual time was fast enough to be in the top 25, BUT, part of that is because the teams in the top 35, dont need to push it. Lets randomly choose a driver: Jimmie Johnson, since he is the defending champ. Lets say, that 5 of the "go or go home" cars run faster laps than he did. Do you think it was because they had better equipment? Likely not. Was it because they are better drivers? Again, likely not. Was it because they had a "better" set up? Probably not. The difference is simple, JJ ran a qual lap, using a race set up, and the "go or go home" cars, used a qual set up.( This takes into account impound races only). To sum it up, generally, because the top 35 rule exists, the drivers in the top 35 dont push it in qualifying, and really, if it was you, would you risk it. When you try to make a pole lap, when you can comfortably run in the top 10, you risk crashing your best car. It is smart not to push it. If the rule changed, I wouldnt be heart broken, but I dont think it would change a whole lot of things. The same drivers would be going home every week, and the fans would be trying to find something else to complain about
There is little to no suspense in qualifying now. It seems to be a silly, highly contrived exercise.
Formula One has a highly contrived qualification process. But that one works beautifully. It, IMO, is the single greatest innovation in auto racing in the past ten years. The best performing cars during the qualification session get the best starting spots. If you haven't seen an F1 qualifying session, check one out next year.
But we're not asking for that - - just good ol' simple traditional qualifications - earn your starting spot each and every race.
something tells me that Tom should stick to NFL and not take up golf....just a hunch :P
another race at Bristol seems to be quite popular....personally I'd rather they switched the Feb Fontana race to Laguna Seca. Mmmm, seeing 43 cars going through the corkscrew sounds quite exciting to me :D
Last edited by Tezgm99 on December 29th at 3:26 PM.
My wish for 2008 would be
set down the rules at the beginning of year, and no changes as you go along.
do away with the owner points for the first 35 spots in a race
then for all of us, if they are going to keep the chase, may we learn to except it and stop saying some one else should have won
if you feel like me and hate the cot and the top 35, start to boycott the races. i hope someone checks out the copyright of the nascar name and find out that because of their big changes they no longer can copyright the name. what they have done is completely opposite of the name. stock car, i know some things had to change, but flat nose dodges racing with a sleek nose, yoyo using a overhead valve v8 which is a design the company never used, and the fact that not even one thing on their cars is even in the same universe with things that have been in their STOCK CARS. all of the other manufacturers have things that are based on cars they produced. get rid of yoyo and the cot. i am checking with a federal attorney to see if there is any merit to pushing the frances and their definition out, and them losing the name. get rid of nasgod and people who use other peoples technology and parts, and talk about their superior technology in their cars.
I would agree with you on this rondo1, except when you do a copyright it does not matter what the it stands for, it's just that they(Frances family) own the word, and remember the teams do not work for NASCAR, they just come to play (lol) on their track each week
My NASCAR wish for 2008.....hmmmmmm, that's a good one. Where to start? Where to start?
1. How about we start with throwing out the top 35 thing. I say we go back to if you want to race, then EARN your way in. I don't think that anyone deserves a guaranteed starting spot in any race.
2. How about we throw out the "only the top 12" can race for the cup...last year it was 10, now it's 12. Where will it stop? Maybe we should just let everyone race for the cup. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
3. How about we also start making everyone play by the same rule book, and get the same penalties? I remember 2 years ago Jr. said "####" on the air and NASCAR fined him and took away driver/owner points. Three weeks later, Tony Stewart said something about his "fat *ss" climbing fences. No fines, no penalties, no docking of points. Is NASCAR deaf?
I do like the way NASCAR does deal with cheaters and drug users. We don't seem to have the issues that the other sports do. But I just think that NASCAR needs to learn a management style that seems to work....fair, firm and consistant.
Just a thought.....
P.S. Please put Bristol back to what it was....2 and 3 wide and passing is NOT Bristol. A well organized demolition derby IS what Bristol is.. People won't pay to be bored...they paid to see the wrecks. That is why it basically takes someone leaving you their tickets in their will in order to get them......hello?
Last edited by lady_aradia on December 30th at 2:34 PM.
You guys are missing the point about racing in the rain. It only happens best in open wheel cars because as the track dries out, the driver needs to watch the tires (and run through puddles) to keep the tires cool so they don't "chunk" apart from the heat of no water on them. Drivers can't see their tires in closed wheel cars. There are some closed wheel class cars that do it (SCCA), but it is a problem, and the NASCAR drivers would really push it, and have a lot of tire failures before coming into the pits to change to slicks.
... believe the drivers feel of the tires is more important than seeing them. These guys are incredibly sensitive to the slightest change in the feel of their tires - I don't think the GT/Rolex guys are pushing to stop driving in the rain - and their cars are far faster than the NASCAR sleds.
Tez is a rare creature; an Australian who was living in New Zealand before moving to Canada. He's also a Civil Engineer who is hoping to spend his Monday to Friday sitting in front of a computer surfing the inter...uh, working hard for an Engineering Consultant or Contractor when he finds a job. His heart is torn between his two loves; F1 and NASCAR.
Due to his high interest in those, his blogs will likely focus on them with the occasional foray into sports that don't get much (if any) mention on this website. All blogs and/or comments will more than likely have his usual dollop of sarcasm and general Aussie spin on them.
Amazingly, he also managed to score 2 MiB nominations on consecutive days (August 5 & 6, 2007) after announcing he had been keeping track of them...he's considering hiding under his bed as a result.
