Friday 24th February 2012

Pic of the Week: NASCAR Daytona 500

NASCAR 2012 kicks off this Saturday, so we thought we'd share this homage to the good ol' boys of oval racing

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200 laps at 190mph average speeds. F1 levels of horsepower. Racing so close even Audi TDI-driving reps would say 'ooh, that's close'. This is what spectators and TV viewers will be treated to when the Daytona 500 opens the 2012 NASCAR season this Saturday.

OK, so purists might be upset that carburettors have this year been replaced with fuel injection, and detractors might say that 500 miles around an oval is a cinch. But as a spectacle, 43 cars barrelling around in the Florida sunshine inches from one another's rumps, it's pretty impressive. And the 150,000 or so Americans who'll be in the Grandstands can't all be wrong, right?

This image from the 2011 race has certainly got us all excited...

If you want to enjoy the Daytona 500 in more than static wallpaper form, the 2012 running (of the Nationwide 300) will be on the haunted fish tank (or haunted picture frame, if you've moved into the LCD/plasma era) this Saturday live from 1730h on Motors TV.

Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone etc)

[nonuts]

I'm still not sure I 'get it' however I will be watching this weekend and trying to get to a race this year.

[VR6 Turbo]

I want to watch this, this year. where's the best place to either live stream or download it? or can I get it on Virgin?

Thanks Andy

[DaveL485]

Might give it a watch!

[Countfreddie]

I went to the first 8 races of the 2004 season as part of my gap year after school. I had seen nothing about NASCAR other than some TV highlights prior to turning up.

IT IS AMAZING.

Actually, the Daytona 500 is relatively boring as its 'restrictor plate' racing and flat out all the way. Also very commercial, and the race takes ages. Plus a safety lap takes ages and they work them around the commercial breaks (only if there is a crash) so if you are in the stands it is very tedious on such a large track... Our closest affordable camping was 10 miles away as well.

the next race, Rockingham, is polar opposite. Proper hillbilly country in deepest darkest North Carolina. a shorter track that requires breaking etc and our caravan was set up literally in the shadow of the main stand! Moonshine and racing all weekend!!!

I seriously recommend any motorsport fans taking in a full weekend of NASCAR and the camping party that goes with it. Your English accent gets you free beer and food all weekend from fellow campers as well as other perks (we got given pit passes by a fellow race goer who thought we should experience it. at Darlington I think. We then snuck into the drivers briefing and then got chatting to a team manager who put us on the pit wall for the race!!!)

IT IS IMMENSE

[williamp]

VR6 Turbo said:

I want to watch this, this year. where's the best place to either live stream or download it? or can I get it on Virgin?

Thanks Andy

there are usually loads of liver streams via justin.tv.

Watch the racer start times carefully: they have hours of build up, and you can find yourself still at 11pm on a sunday night waiting for the race to start

I love it. A surprising amount of tactics, and the commentators are great: they have a cutaway car to explain what changes the engineers made....

and analysis like this whilst the race is on:


.. and then they do a few laps without commentary, just so you can hear the engine noise..

As racing entertainment, I think its almost perfect

[Kenzle]

williamp said:

there are usually loads of liver streams via justin.tv.

Watch the racer start times carefully: they have hours of build up, and you can find yourself still at 11pm on a sunday night waiting for the race to start

I love it. A surprising amount of tactics, and the commentators are great: they have a cutaway car to explain what changes the engineers made....

and analysis like this whilst the race is on:


.. and then they do a few laps without commentary, just so you can hear the engine noise..

As racing entertainment, I think its almost perfect

What sort of analysis is that?! They are all doing 182 MPH at 7600RPM!

[Riggers]

Kenzle said:

What sort of analysis is that?! They are all doing 182 MPH at 7600RPM!

'driver b is not travelling faster than driver a. This is why driver b is still behind....

[Life Saab Itch]

Wot, no "Mello Yello" livery?




If PH ever wants to do a report on Nascar, I'll quite happily get sent over for one of the races on expenses.

[Johnboy Mac]

I've nothing but respect for these drivers, it really is racing.

[nonuts]

You can get them all live on premiersports, we're paying for it so I'm going to make sure we watch them all this year

[Mini1275]

Boogity, boogity, boogity, let's go racing boys!.

[williamp]

Life Saab Itch said:

Wot, no "Mello Yello" livery?




If PH ever wants to do a report on Nascar, I'll quite happily get sent over for one of the races on expenses.

you'll need a photographer wont you? One who can take pictures 'n stuff.

[Riggers]

Mini1275 said:

Boogity, boogity, boogity, let's go racing boys!.

Quite!

[chris116]

I really miss the highlights show that used to be on Channel 5.

[nonuts]

chris116 said:

I really miss the highlights show that used to be on Channel 5.

If you have sky, Premiersports showed some of the races for free last year.

[davepoth]

The bit I love is when they do interviews with the drivers while they're driving (behind the pace car).

[Riggers]

Anybody else seen this?

Danica Patrick in one of the 'Gatorade Duels' that help to sort out the starting line-up...

http://youtu.be/cSciJqJqdm8

Ouch...

[soad]

That'll do nicely, saved

[Mini1275]

Riggers said:

Anybody else seen this?

Danica Patrick in one of the 'Gatorade Duels' that help to sort out the starting line-up...

http://youtu.be/cSciJqJqdm8

Ouch...

Saw it yesterday, it was quite a hit.

Luckily it was a safer barrier there, I don't think she'd of been quite as lucky if it was one of the old concrete walls.

Those sudden impacts are often the worse, she didn't really lose any speed (or energy) before the hit.

[Riggers]

Mini1275 said:

aw it yesterday, it was quite a hit.

Luckily it was a safer barrier there, I don't think she'd of been quite as lucky if it was one of the old concrete walls.

Very lucky .

I was impressed she had the presence of mind to put here hands up by her helmet when she realised the barrier hit was inevitable. Not sure I'd have been so sensible...