Competition Yellow?

[SentraWV]

OK, so I decided to tune in to the end of the Brickyard 400 and NASCAR threw a predetermined "competition yellow" with 10 laps left. No nod/wink "debris" yellow, a straight up "competition" yellow. Is this new? Has NASCAR completely embraced the fact that it's professional wrestling on wheels?

Back to the TiVo'd races, I guess . . .

[Judd]

It was total BS. In NASCAR's defense, it was all for safety.

[wvphoto]

they said at the beginning of the race they would have one for safety.

something about the tires.. new compounds..
they werent sure how they were going to run.. or last..

they wanted them checked.

[HiHoSilver]

Goodyear must have brought a bum tire compound to Indy, tires were ony lasting 8-10 laps, any further, the team was risking a blow out, yes a few of those happend.
Still more thrills than a F1 race can produce.

so I took a nap....

[SentraWV]

Wow, has Goodyear gotten that bad? I know the drivers have complained about the tires all year, but I didn't realize it was more than usual driver moaning.

Still, didn't they know what the story was by the end of the race? To throw a yellow 10 laps from the end just seems pointless.

[DennisBlevins]

Hopefully Hoosier can get back in the mix. There needs to be more rivalry. The cars are so much alike now it's like watching an old IROC race.......

[RobbieNelson]

At least they ran the race. (see F1 debacle ~3yrs ago)


... There needs to be more rivalry. The cars are so much alike now it's like watching an old IROC race.......

I read a few posts somewhere last week that were complaining about Toyota doing so well this year. Well... boo friggin hoo, they've got a better engine. If you want all the cars to be the same, take all the silly stickers(grill/headlight/taillights) off the bumpers and just run a generic car. What use is having different manufactures if one isn't allowed to be better than the other.

Or... run the same car... no, that idea faded away with the IROC series.

Or... here's a decent idea... add penalty weight to the cars that finish in the front. Take weight away from the ones that finish in the back. Hey, wait(no pun intended), SPEED World Challenge already uses that format on their STOCK cars.

NAsCAR :frown:

[SentraWV]

At least they ran the race. (see F1 debacle ~3yrs ago)

Actually, I think this mess sort of vindicates the F1 powers that be. NASCAR did what you'd expect them to do and what a lot of people wanted FIA to do - change things for the benefit of the show (so there would be one at all). In the end, the F1 race ended up being a "your equipment isn't good enough, tough cookies." To the better prepared went the spoils.

Since everyone was aware of the tire problems at Indy yesterday, I don't see why NASCAR couldn't have done the same. If someone could get a couple of extra laps out of those tires by going slower, but win the race on fewer pit stops (or something), at least they'd be "racing."

I guess my bottom line is that F1 took the hard line and the fans didn't like it. NASCAR came up with an accomodation and the fans didn't like it. You'll not please people in any event, so you might as well keep the integrity of the competition intact.

And if I were NASCAR, I'd make darn sure that Goodyear knows next year that the check doesn't get handed over until after a successful race.

NP: Fish, Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors

[ShortysTRM]

Still more thrills than a F1 race can produce.

There's a difference between "thrills" and risking someone's life in the name of entertainment. Racing is dangerous enough as it is.

As for the Toyota engine rule, it's a complete sham. Americans are mad that the Japanese team has outsmarted them, so something had to be done to dumb them down. They weren't outside of regulation, they just had more power. Supposedly, it was something like 25 horsepower over Ford and Chevy, but only 4 more than the Dodges. I assume that means that Dodge is still alowed to have 21 more horsepower..? What a stupid series.

It's so boring watching 15 lead changes throughout a race, when being in the lead means absolutely nothing in NASCAR. You can be in the lead on one lap and 19th the next, then in 4th again on the following lap. Passing is one thing, but that's more like a game of Boggle with 43 racecars.

On a side note, I thought this thread was about the paint color Competition Yellow lol

[HiHoSilver]

At least they ran the race. (see F1 debacle ~3yrs ago)



I read a few posts somewhere last week that were complaining about Toyota doing so well this year. Well... boo friggin hoo, they've got a better engine. If you want all the cars to be the same, take all the silly stickers(grill/headlight/taillights) off the bumpers and just run a generic car. What use is having different manufactures if one isn't allowed to be better than the other.

Or... run the same car... no, that idea faded away with the IROC series.

Or... here's a decent idea... add penalty weight to the cars that finish in the front. Take weight away from the ones that finish in the back. Hey, wait(no pun intended), SPEED World Challenge already uses that format on their STOCK cars.

NAsCAR :frown:

Could not agree more,

another reason why I am losing interrest, plus most of the older drivers are gone and I can not seem to care much about the new nerw drivers coming in.

The open wheel guys waited about 10 years to late to join NASCAR. I Think most just jumped on a sinking ship.

As for Toyota, they have lured good teams this year, Gibbs being on of them.
Last year they had nothing but scut teams that could barely make a race, Nascar did allow them motor changes,...but again there is NASCAR dictating everthing in the sport.....bad move on there part, just look at the grandstands during the race, I seen a lot of empty seats.

NASCAR needs to organize the events and let the Team/Manufacture design & build the cars.

[HiHoSilver]

Troy...think you might havde miss-understood the "Thrills"

The thrills were not pertaining the people blowing tires....

Just the racing in general....

I have tried to watch open wheel racing, just not for me, however I did enjoy watching IRL run around Richmond SPeedway,

[RobbieNelson]

I have tried to watch open wheel racing, just not for me, however I did enjoy watching IRL run around Richmond SPeedway,

For that comment I am going to design an autocross course that consists of a big oval with left turns only. It shouldn't use a lot of pylons. Think it'll be much fun?

[SentraWV]

Just the racing in general....

And you know what? The racing that happened before the last yellow - when Johnson and whoever finished second were slicing through the field - was pretty good! I know Indy isn't real popular with NASCAR folks because you can't run side by side all day long like lots of other ovals, but it seems actually force drivers to brake and such. It emphasizes a different skill set, I guess.

NP: The Decemberists, The Crane Wife

[HiHoSilver]

you guys get fired up when some hints of any displeasure with open wheel racing haha...

I'm not saying that road racing isnt fun to watch, I love to watch the NASCAR guys run road courses. I wished they would run more

maybe F1 has changed since I have last watched.

I am not implying that F1 or any other open wheel series is bad.... it just not my cup of tea...

Granted ovals are left turns....it is not easy and they break at all tracks except for Talladega

and yes an oval auto-x would suck

[SeanB]

Any made for tv racing is like wrestling.

Talk to any World Challenge teams and they'll tell you that contact is something that the promoters want the teams to partake in.

Want good racing? Come to an amateur SCCA/NASA/EMRA/Whatever else weekend.

[RobbieNelson]

you guys get fired up when some hints of any displeasure with open wheel racing haha...

I'm not saying that road racing isnt fun to watch, I love to watch the NASCAR guys run road courses. I wished they would run more

maybe F1 has changed since I have last watched.

I am not implying that F1 or any other open wheel series is bad.... it just not my cup of tea...

Granted ovals are left turns....it is not easy and they break at all tracks except for Talladega

and yes an oval auto-x would suck

Don't get me wrong. I listened to the last couple of laps on the radio on my way home from Water Ways. I'm just not impressed by what people make it out to be. For example, seeing a front wheel drive, 6-cylinder, fuel injected Monte Carlo dressed as a Dale Jr replica. People still root for a manufacture when the only signifigance they have is the funding and a sticker package. That's what I like about SPEED World Challenge and most of the amature SCCA/NASA races; they are REAL cars that you can go buy.

... the real reason I don't watch as much any more... Bobby Labonte decided to "take it easy" ever since he won the championship. He used to run all the Busch races and now he barely runs the Sprint races.

I'm I the only one that thinks of real sprint cars when they hear "Sprint race?" Confuses the heck out of me.

[ShortysTRM]

I too suffer from Sprint Cup confusion. Getting used to it, though.

I am used to people disliking open wheel racing, and I definitely understand not liking F1. For me, it seems like any other racing series is just cars going around a track, but F1 is something special. However, I understand that not everyone likes it. The names are impossible to pronounce, and some of the drivers are spot-on clones of Jean Girard [Formula 1 Jazz Nutjob from Talladega Nights]. Passing is fairly sparse, and nearly any contact results in a DNF and debris everywhere.


I'm completely entrenched in it. But it took a lot of wasted time to get this far into it, and it would take me years to get this far into any other form of racing. It's just where I've ended up, and I've formed my opinions around it, most likely in an attempt to justify watching such a ridiculous sport.

[edit: I also like the Racing Series which are based on factory-built and widely available cars. I don't know many names, but I can watch the cars all day long.]

[SeanB]

That's what I like about SPEED World Challenge

Um negative ghost rider, they share some similarities but underneath the skin its pretty custom. Most are now running sequential boxes, the RSX is well known for having a custom engineered rear suspension to make the car somewhat drivable. Want "stock" car racing, go watch Touring or Showroom Stock races.

Speed World Challenge has come a long way from the original Firehawk Series. Its no longer off the line limited prep cars, everything is a big dollar money game.

[RobbieNelson]

Um negative ghost rider, they share some similarities but underneath the skin its pretty custom. Most are now running sequential boxes, the RSX is well known for having a custom engineered rear suspension to make the car somewhat drivable. Want "stock" car racing, go watch Touring or Showroom Stock races.

Speed World Challenge has come a long way from the original Firehawk Series. Its no longer off the line limited prep cars, everything is a big dollar money game.

I stand corrected. And since the coverage is sporatic, I don't watch much.

[MJ86GT]

I went to Mid America and watched the American Iron series last year and was amazed. Plenty of rubbing and racing lead changes happening. I've gotten away from asphalt racing as of late and really focused on dirt late models and outlaws.

I'm with a few others, open wheel isnt my cup of tea. I can only tell you a couple of names, Danica because shes hot, and Castro somebody. But I can watch a little of it. Nascar is out, I dont even car anymore. I do think its funny Hendricks ousted Kyle Busch for Dale Jr and Kyle is stomping the competition.

[SentraWV]

Want "stock" car racing, go watch Touring or Showroom Stock races.

Or Koni Challenge, when it actually gets on TV (I've got the Barber round on TiVo waiting for me). Still, Speed WC cars are a whole lot closer to what's on the showroom than NASCAR cars are. Heck, ALMS/FIA GT cars are, too!

NP: The Enid, In the Region of the Summer Stars

[Hillbilly]

Looks like Bridgestone/Firestone is the only company that can build a decent tire for Indy. Goodyear had wear problems up there last year with the old car and didn't even think to run a tire test with the new car even though it is known to load the right side tires more due to higher roll centers. That is exactly the kind of thinking that has gotten them run out of almost every form of motorsports besides pro drag racing.

P.s. This year's tire was the same as last year's and I was FTD in Huntington a few years back on an oval with chicanes on both straights, but running a flat asphalt oval by yourself is about as boring as watching lawn mower racing.

P.s.s. Last Saturday night I drove a little over two hours to Chillicothe and watched Steve Kinser and the rest of the World of Outlaws average over 100 mph on a 3/8 mile while running three and four wide all night long. If you ever get the chance to go to a big dirt race don't pass it up, I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Best open wheel downforce racing ever.

[SentraWV]

Whoa, boy.

Rain in Montreal for the artist-formerly-know-as-Busch series race is similarly complicating things. They have rain tires (one set per team!) that are apparently 7 years old. But to put them on, NASCAR threw a competition yellow and let everybody come to the pits at the same time and change tires. We've been told that, as the track dries, NASCAR, not the teams, will decide when to switch back to slicks.

:rolleyes: