F1 to NASCAR

[Treibenschnell]

'Nuff said by Schumy...

[jrj512]

You would think that the way road racers talk about the ovals they would win every race, yet we have not exactly seen road racers do too well on NASCAR ovals. However, we have seen many oval drivers do well on road courses. Ovals and Cup cars are not as easy as the road racers make them out to be. Plus, with 43 cars out on the track, you actually have a chance of being passed. Put 43 F1 cars out on a road coarse and then you will have a race! With the exception of the useless full course yellow flags, the best races of the year (from the television viewer's POV) are when NASCAR races on road courses. There is a lot more excitement there than in 20 F1 races.

Also keep in mind that with the exception of Daytona and Talladega, NASCAR drivers must break, apex, and accelerate out of each corner just as on a road course. Does it really matter that they only turn one way, since they are performing the same tasks otherwise? True, they do not have to deal with off-camber and hills, but it is still not too easy. If it were so easy, then any of us could earn millions per year being Ricky Bobby, right?

[Nexus Flux]

Personally I'd take an F1 race to a NASCAR race any day. But I think LaMans tops them both.

I can certainly appreciate the endurance factor in NASCAR as they run nearly full throttle for about 4 hours, but the driving is really dummed down. The cars are setup for the corners and all the driver has to do is keep it straight on the straights. Oh and they have to be really good at drafting. One thing that makes the NASCAR road courses really interesting is that these drivers and their cars are taken out of their natural enviroment. Watkins Glen is one good example. Just check out the elevation changes.

F1 is appealing because it is the technological piniacle of racing. Also there is a cool tool at the Brembro site if you want to check out the tracks. Just go to the "2006 Formula 1 circuits' identity cards" link off the main page. It will show you all the tracs with braking zones and even features video clips of some of the most challenging corners on each track.

LeMans is cool because they run a few different classes at the same time and they go at it for hours. It's a real test of both man and machine (and crews).

Another racing I think is cool is the JGTC. They run two classes ( a 500 HP and a 300 HP) at the same time. There are a few restrictions, such as parts must be availible to the public, no cross manufacrurer engine swaps, engine must remain in the same oreintation and location as the production car. Other than that it's pretty open. There is a much argued about weight "penalty" system. For example, if you win a race the next race you have to carry X amount of extra weight. This makes the field very competative. There are only 9 races in every season and much of the car is nearly redesigned to factor in the weight "penalty" and the varing track conditions.

And let's not forget WRC. They take normal street cars and drive off-road at insane speeds in all weather conditions in some of the most popular and remote places on the planet. No practice laps, nearly driving blind only getting an idea of what's ahead from the co-driver reading a course book. I grew up around a few guys that raced SCCA rally here in the states and in Poland and let me tell you, those cars get the snot beat out of them. I remember seeing an interview with a couple of WRC drivers and they were asked "How can you drive so fast with people standing just a few inches off the track?" Their answer was, "We pretend they are bushes other wise you would lose your mind." Now a days WRC cars are restricted to about 400 HP but that doest make them any less of a 4 wheel drive land missle. Back in the mid to late 80's there was the Group B cars that had a few unfortunate mishaps with crowds and deep ravines. These cars were insane. One prime example was the Lancia Delta S4. This car "officially" made 550 HP and could go 0-100 KPH (about 62 MPH) in 2.5 seconds on GRAVEL. Group B cars were finally banned by the FIA in 1987 (I think).

OK that's my 2 cents and then some.

[jrj512]

WRC -- now that's a class of its own. Those guys impress me more than anything.

I guess this thread drifted, though.

[Nexus Flux]

Sorry

[onething]

I guess this thread drifted, though.

Sorry

Looks like a four wheel drift and that makes it OK

[Nexus Flux]

Yea, I guess my post was a little off topic but I think it's pretty informative with all the links and resarched stats.

[onething]

Yea, I guess my post was a little off topic but I think it's pretty informative with all the links and resarched stats.

Way too informative for this bunch but I enjoyed it.

[Nexus Flux]

You're welcome