Daytona 500 racing in pairs - wtf?
02-21-2011, 12:55 PM
#31
Nordschleife Master
I was confused by how a two car draft was faster than the 15 car drafts of yesteryear, so I googled it.
Here is the best explanation I found
The long lines of restrictor plate cars turned me off. I'm a bit undecided on the two car drafts, but on balance, I think I prefer them to the conga lines of old.
Here is the best explanation I found
Q. Why has the two-car draft been so dominant during Speedweeks at Daytona this year?
Comstock: The two-car draft has been possible because A) the track has a lot of grip; B) the track is really smooth in the corners. When the track was bumpy in the corners, there was no way the cars could maintain contact through the corners because of the undulations in the track. Now that the track is smooth with a lot of grip, the cars can go wide open through the corners. . . . Previously, if two cars stayed together in the corner, you’d run the risk of crashing. There wasn’t enough grip. One of the cars would slip. It was too bumpy, and when the bumpers wouldn’t align, the cars would make contact. Now the track is smooth and has a lot of grip, especially last night – 50 degrees and no wind. You couldn’t get any more perfect conditions for a race.
Q. Why didn’t a three-car draft work?
Comstock: It’s really hard for three cars to stay in line and go through the corners and not lose contact. There’s so much orchestration there that it’s all but impossible. The second car that is doing the pushing (in a three-car draft) doesn’t get the air taken off his spoiler so he’s got enough air on his spoiler that he can maintain grip in the corner and continue to push. You couldn’t go as fast as we go now because you couldn’t maintain the speed in the corners. You would have to get off the other car. Now you don’t have to get off the car in front of you. You just push it all the way around. If you push all the way around, that momentum is going to build and now you’re racing really fast.”
Comstock: The two-car draft has been possible because A) the track has a lot of grip; B) the track is really smooth in the corners. When the track was bumpy in the corners, there was no way the cars could maintain contact through the corners because of the undulations in the track. Now that the track is smooth with a lot of grip, the cars can go wide open through the corners. . . . Previously, if two cars stayed together in the corner, you’d run the risk of crashing. There wasn’t enough grip. One of the cars would slip. It was too bumpy, and when the bumpers wouldn’t align, the cars would make contact. Now the track is smooth and has a lot of grip, especially last night – 50 degrees and no wind. You couldn’t get any more perfect conditions for a race.
Q. Why didn’t a three-car draft work?
Comstock: It’s really hard for three cars to stay in line and go through the corners and not lose contact. There’s so much orchestration there that it’s all but impossible. The second car that is doing the pushing (in a three-car draft) doesn’t get the air taken off his spoiler so he’s got enough air on his spoiler that he can maintain grip in the corner and continue to push. You couldn’t go as fast as we go now because you couldn’t maintain the speed in the corners. You would have to get off the other car. Now you don’t have to get off the car in front of you. You just push it all the way around. If you push all the way around, that momentum is going to build and now you’re racing really fast.”
02-21-2011, 12:58 PM
#32
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
yep, i prefer to keep my mind pretty closed. there are plenty of younger folks around with more time on their hands to keep their minds open for any crap that world spits into them.
02-21-2011, 01:42 PM
#33
Three Wheelin'
02-21-2011, 02:02 PM
#34
Drifting
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Last I checked, there are plenty of cars on this forum with changed splitters and wings that are still Porsches.
02-21-2011, 02:04 PM
#35
For those that think a pass or lead change on lap 84 is important, you need to get a life. It means nothing. All the racing starts after mile #450. The racing could be improved greatly if they made it a sprint race. The first 450 miles a just filler to sell commercials and group up the field.
02-21-2011, 02:21 PM
#36
Three Wheelin'
For those that think a pass or lead change on lap 84 is important, you need to get a life. It means nothing. All the racing starts after mile #450. The racing could be improved greatly if they made it a sprint race. The first 450 miles a just filler to sell commercials and group up the field.
The really should make the superspeedway races non-points exhibitions and thus, shorter.
02-21-2011, 02:21 PM
#37
The Penguin King
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
If we're going to reduce our commentary on NASCAR to two sentence as some like to do, then we should do the same for F1.
I'll go first:
Qualifying, followed by endless parade laps while the commentators discuss tires and pit strategies. Passing is discouraged at all cost.
Oh, and while we're at it... Danica Patrick...
I'll go first:
Qualifying, followed by endless parade laps while the commentators discuss tires and pit strategies. Passing is discouraged at all cost.
Oh, and while we're at it... Danica Patrick...
Boogity...boogity.....boogity. How about positve pole magnets in the front bumper and negative pole magnets in the rear bumper.
02-21-2011, 05:52 PM
#39
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
and go faster.
and when they overpush - *** of car in front goes 180 degrees and 15 cars get wrecked. kinda funny to see how they allow that craizyness to happen but yellow flag whole circuit after one single car gets a flat.
02-21-2011, 06:04 PM
#40
Drifting
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For those that think a pass or lead change on lap 84 is important, you need to get a life. It means nothing. All the racing starts after mile #450. The racing could be improved greatly if they made it a sprint race. The first 450 miles a just filler to sell commercials and group up the field.
02-21-2011, 06:06 PM
#41
Rennlist Member
as i understand - for oval tracks cars get setup with understeer usually so by locking your nose into *** of car ahead you will follow that car where it goes - less practical understeer for you plus as you push that car ahead you also transfer its weight to front axle as well so it reduces his understeer too and so you get more grip on both cars.
and go faster.
and when they overpush - *** of car in front goes 180 degrees and 15 cars get wrecked. kinda funny to see how they allow that craizyness to happen but yellow flag whole circuit after one single car gets a flat.
and go faster.
and when they overpush - *** of car in front goes 180 degrees and 15 cars get wrecked. kinda funny to see how they allow that craizyness to happen but yellow flag whole circuit after one single car gets a flat.
02-21-2011, 06:07 PM
#42
02-21-2011, 06:16 PM
#43
Rennlist Member
02-21-2011, 06:18 PM
#44
Race Director
When did they get rid of the CoT? They changed the splitter/air dam up a little bit and went to the old style spoiler, but they didn't replace the car. The chassis is still the same, safer and more "affordable" chassis as it has been since the CoT was introduced.
Last I checked, there are plenty of cars on this forum with changed splitters and wings that are still Porsches.
Last I checked, there are plenty of cars on this forum with changed splitters and wings that are still Porsches.
02-21-2011, 06:21 PM
#45
Race Director
They had over 40 or even more lead changes. There was passing going on every lap. Yes I watched the race. There were some 2 car hook ups that swapped placed due to maintaining temps but there was also a lot of racing going on that included passing.