Watkins Glen Final Lap - Here's a good race finish

[Just_a_fan]

If you want tin tops that bang in to each other but can also change direction then look at something like BTCC. They have some great races too and don't rely on an oily track to do so. The cars aren't 1950s-tech lorries either...

But trying to compare those NASCAR trucks to F1 is frankly ridiculous. I've watched some of the oval NASCAR stuff and it's about the best cure for insomnia that I can think of.

But "to each, their own" I guess...

[Tommy Cookers]

does NASCAR still allow drivers to compete with one whole arm in a cast, like (Bobby?) LaBonte in 98 (or99) ?

does F1 allow this ?

[aussiegman]

3400Lbs...110inch wheelbase...12 inch tire width
Try it...it aint easy.

Tires are 12" bulged out at the sidewall, tread is less than 11". And with driver and fuel the cars are 3650 lbs. So even worse than you think

By comparison, GT classes in Le Mans are 2500-2800 lbs? Think even V8 supercars are "only" around 3000 lbs.

The minimum V8 Supercar weight without driver is 1355kgs or 2987 lbs, so yep right on the 3,000lbs. But the Supercars have better brakes, aero and tyres. Look at some of the comments Ambrose and Montoya made when they switched over from their original classes. NASCAR is not an easy thing to drive. I have driven one of the drive experience days in Las Vegas and it was as loose as anything and you could feel even the restricted car moving around. Add another 250/300hp and the effects of aero turbulence from running in a crowd and its incredible they manage to finish a race at all. No wonder there are so many "incidents".

V8's are about to go to a common chassis as part of the Car of the Future (COTF) program and Nissan is lining up next year next to Ford and Holden (GM).Lots of changes over the current format such as:

100kg lighter at 1250-1255kg
Engine 100mm further back in chassis
Mandated independent Rear suspension
Mandated Transaxle gearbox
Fuel tank moved forward of rear axle line
18" tyres vs current 17"

These are just some of the changes and there is now a greater number of specific category mandated items. Early testing has seen the rear end grip increase substantially over the current live axle/spool diff arrangement that the teams are dialing out masses of understeer they never had before. 2013 will be very interesting for the V8's in Oz. THey are doing a race at the COTA this year and next I believe too..

[aussiegman]

does NASCAR still allow drivers to compete with one whole arm in a cast, like (Bobby?) LaBonte in 98 (or99) ?

does F1 allow this ?

Didn't Ricky Bobby run with a cast or something recently?? I swear I saw that on TV or somewhere else recently...

[Nickel]

I don't know about this... It's definitely exciting but... It's so rude! Some of the drivers were using an extra 200 ft of runoff as "track" more than once a lap! I also don't think I'm a fan of the whole bumping thing, I mean it seems like even the announcers were expecting the attacking driver to push the defending one off the track... What the f%?k is that? While I respect the challenge of driving 3400lb bumper cars around a track, it does not embody what I look for from motorsport. I kept expecting one of the cars to have a bloody confederate flag on the top and hit a jump to gap a couple corners. Exciting, yes. Definitely not making me want to watch Nascar any more than before though.

All that being said, F1 could learn something about backing off the reprimands and sanctions. Save them for when Pastor deliberately plows into someone and let them race.

[strad]

It's so rude! Some of the drivers were using an extra 200 ft of runoff as "track"

You mean just like F1?
Seriously,,you're gonna form an opinion based on the last lap (where almost anything goes) on a greasy track?
Come on.

[Ray]

I don't know about this... It's definitely exciting but... It's so rude! Some of the drivers were using an extra 200 ft of runoff as "track" more than once a lap!

The entire track was covered in oil for the last two laps. They weren't doing it to gain an advantage, they were literally running off track because they had no grip.

[thearmofbarlow]

I don't know about this... It's definitely exciting but... It's so rude! Some of the drivers were using an extra 200 ft of runoff as "track" more than once a lap! I also don't think I'm a fan of the whole bumping thing, I mean it seems like even the announcers were expecting the attacking driver to push the defending one off the track... What the f%?k is that? While I respect the challenge of driving 3400lb bumper cars around a track, it does not embody what I look for from motorsport. I kept expecting one of the cars to have a bloody confederate flag on the top and hit a jump to gap a couple corners. Exciting, yes. Definitely not making me want to watch Nascar any more than before though.

All that being said, F1 could learn something about backing off the reprimands and sanctions. Save them for when Pastor deliberately plows into someone and let them race.

"No, no, he didn't slam you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you... he *rubbed* you. And rubbin, son, is racin'. "

We don't typically screw around with this "Oh my whiskers and mittens! He slightly collided with the outer part of my rear wing! Penalty! Penalty!" BS over here. Probably why we don't like non-American football. In NASCAR the basic rule has always been that anything up to and sometimes including putting someone into a wall for shiggles was completely fine as long as you expected the same in return. Think BTCC and you're on the right track.

Actually, you're on the WRONG track... 'cause those are in England and... vague joke. Move along.

[strad]

And if you hold me up on the last lap.. I may move you out of the way.

[thearmofbarlow]

And if you hold me up on the last lap.. I may move you out of the way.

Verily. If Maldonado had an off and tried to rejoin in the middle of Dale Jr. he'd be the one in the wall with his race ruined.

[MOWOG]

Sadly, the lead off video has been removed from YouTube.

But, as much as I dislike NASCAR in its restrictor plate, superspeedway mode, I always make it a point to watch the road course races. =D>

And yes, Formula One could learn a thing or two from NASCAR road course events about how to make racing exciting without risking life or limb.