Tuesday 28th February 2012

PH Blog: why NASCAR rules

Only in America would a vehicle full of jet fuel be allowed on a live race track and be called a 'safety truck'

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Much hilarity in the PH office this morning at the reports from the Daytona 500 which, having been delayed due to rain, then literally exploded thanks to Juan Pablo Montoya crashing into the back of a track-drying machine. A track-drying machine that has a sideways-mounted helicopter engine blowing hot air across the banking. Obviously.

Short of getting the USMC to napalm the track with a fly-by of F-18s you have to admire the sheer lunacy of putting a slow-moving vehicle full of jet fuel onto a live race track. What next - getting the crowd to take potshots with shotguns at the racing cars, just to spice things up a bit?

From a European perspective it's easy to get snooty about NASCAR. But boy, these guys know how to put on a show. OK, there's the whole not being able to drive in the rain thing and the postponement of the race for the first time in its 54-year history. You can read the full race report and tale of Matt Kenseth's victory on Sports Illustrated here but in-house NASCAR fan Riggers was full of tales yesterday from the earlier Nationwide 300 race.

Here Danica Patrick got punted off the track by her team-mate Cole Whitt, prompting a caution flag and dive for the pits that saw the self same get flipped round in the melee.

The NASCAR solution to a car facing the wrong way in the pits? A blunt radio message "just turn it around", a dumped clutch and a neat 180. In the pits. Brilliant! See here.

 

And if you think that's exciting wait until you see the finish of the same race.

 

I had a taste of NASCAR in a previous life on MSN Cars and, I've got to say, it remains one of the most exciting drives I've ever had. And if you're ever Stateside and get a chance to do it, look up The Richard Petty Experience and sign yourself up. OK, it's a lot of build-up (and money) for three flying laps but, by heck, it's pretty intense. Just watching the video back gets the taste of race fuel on the back of my throat, stinging your taste buds the moment you arrive at the infield from the pit tunnel. It's a vivid memory, emerging blinking into the sunshine, the spooky empty stadium looming over the track and the sound of a lone NASCAR V8 echoing across the vast infield and reflected off the empty seats. I'd love to see a race for real too. I might pack the Nomex though. As well as a brolly. Can't be too prepared, it would appear.

Dan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Not Ideal]

Am happy to confess I am a secret NASCAR fan and I watched most of the Nationwide race. They really know how to put on a show the yanks from start to finish.

[Mr Gear]

I love Nascar. It's a bit like cycle-racing... all about slipstreaming and tactics, and not a test of the usual skills used in circuit racing. It's fascinating to watch a race unfold.

And also like cycle racing, when things go bad, you get real fireworks!

[Hellbound]

I'd watch it if it had aliens.


Needs more aliens.

[Noe]

Dreadful place daytona

Dreadful people that generally like NASCAR

Billy bob dawkings let the us bashing commence

[CBR JGWRR]

Hellbound said:

I'd watch it if it had aliens.


Needs more aliens.

MotoGP style aliens or ET?

[Not Ideal]

Mr Gear said:

I love Nascar. It's a bit like cycle-racing... all about slipstreaming and tactics, and not a test of the usual skills used in circuit racing. It's fascinating to watch a race unfold.

And also like cycle racing, when things go bad, you get real fireworks!

Completely agree with you - there's a proper scramble to be near the front in the last 10-odd laps just like the last 3km in cycling. And you really need a team-mate to help get you up the front.

[Numeric]

There is a lovely bit in one commentary that basically says Montoya was apparently uninjured but despite this the race was still red flagged! I agree - driving through burning jet fuel would surely add to the excitement and I can't for a second see why you would red flag just for that.

[Bucketeer]

Driver Brad Keselowski was taking pics and tweeting during the race. I believe he has a phone cradle mounted on the dash. Mr Ecclestone, could you make this mandatory for your little series please?

[Twilight1]

I bet she does well with the sponsors.

[davepoth]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMYknUwHkpk

Here's some video of it.

[PaulMoor]

Jet fuel? That would be the stuff that is practicly the same as drev? Not exactly crazy. No-one seems to have any problem with all the cars full of more flammable race fuel...

[robmlufc]

PaulMoor said:

Jet fuel? That would be the stuff that is practicly the same as drev? Not exactly crazy. No-one seems to have any problem with all the cars full of more flammable race fuel...

Indeed, consider its only jet fuel its a bit worrying that it went up like that after a relatively low speed impact.

I enjoy NASCAR though, shame there isn't as many green flag pit stops but the racing is as close as it gets.

[y2blade]

I have loved NASCAR for years

[davepoth]

PaulMoor said:

Jet fuel? That would be the stuff that is practicly the same as drev? Not exactly crazy. No-one seems to have any problem with all the cars full of more flammable race fuel...

But the race car didn't explode, did it?

[tbtstt]

Nice to see NASCAR getting some intelligent commentary on Pistonheads. I get so sick of reading "its just going left" comments, invariably from people who've never even sat down and watched a race.

Like all motorsports it has its dull moments, but the racing is normally close, full of lead changes and victory can fall into the hands of a driver from a "lesser" team (all statements you'd struggle to attach to our so called "premier" motorsport in Europe...). Plus, as much as we knock them for it, the Americans always put on a good show.

[ajprice]

davepoth said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMYknUwHkpk

Here's some video of it.

Top comment :

"I want you to go out there and hit the pace car.
Hit the pace car?
Yes, hit the pace car!
Why?
You've hit every other god damn thing out there, I want you to be perfect!"

[robmlufc]

ajprice said:

Top comment :

"I want you to go out there and hit the pace car.
Hit the pace car?
Yes, hit the pace car!
Why?
You've hit every other god damn thing out there, I want you to be perfect!"

Because rubbin son is racing

[MrKipling43]

I tried SO HARD to watch the Nationwide Sprint 300, but I just couldn't get excited.

I find it to be a bit like watching drifting - I find the driving impressive, but It's just too samey for me and in NASCAR, IMO, not enough rests on nailing that one beautifully-executed overtake. It's just pass-re-pass, pass-re-pass. One of my favourite things in motor sport is the dive for the corner - who can brake the latest and still get it stopped, is the exit going to compromise the entry etc etc. Obviously, that's missing in NASCAR.

[ajprice]

Why was there a 'dryer truck' on the track anyway? I've looked around a few reports but I can't find anything to say what it was drying, I thought Indy, Nascar etc didn't run in the rain??

[Gorbyrev]

Was that a guy on a deck chair that was 10ft from dancing with a spinng NASCAR, video 1 0:10. I bet that guy needed a change of "Day's of Thunderwear" after that! Not a lot of downforce going on there.

Edited by Gorbyrev on Tuesday 28th February 12:42