Nascar: 2010

[Don]

Wayne, comments from NASCAR would indicate that FI is a good possibility within a few years. Attempting to devise, your point on rules, how to regulate, inspect, etc.

Even considering the economic times we are in, with the decreased TV viewing, track attendance, challenges attracting and retaining sponsors, advertising revenue, etc maybe there is realization the approach to the cars, race format etc needs to change.

Just as aside, NASCAR will be inspecting the start and park cars after the race, including motor tear downs and a more thorough look. Thought being there are other Teams that would run the entire race , but failed to qualify.

[Don]

Your tax dollars at work:

The Census Bureau as one of the sponsors for Greg Biffle ?????. Was not mentioned whether for one race at Atlanta or includes other races.

Must have been the same individual that bought an ad for the US Census on the Super Bowl

[tcrist]

As much as I lake Carl, I think that he should be parked for at least 5 races and fined $250K for his stupidity. I hope they do not fine Jack or the crew chief. They had nothing to do with this.

[Ron61]

Terry,

I agree. I like Carl too, but that was a bonehead move and he should have to pay for it. Just like I think they shouldn't take points from the driver if the crew chief does something illegal to the car as most of the time the driver doesn't know about it.

I just hope that NASCAR doesn't decide to take back all authority and refuse to let them drive as these are the first pretty good races they have had in years. And even then the attendance is still dropping. I saw the figures for TV on the Daytona 500 and was surprised that they were so much lower than last years.

I still would like to see these NASCAR designed cars in a junk yard and have them go back to racing real cars with all of the safety features installed.

Ron

[lnfletcher]

I believe that the attendance and viewing is dropping ever since they went to the silly race for the chase format.

[Joe Wicked]

As far as Carl and Brad, my comments are this, at Talladega, Brad was trying to pass Carl, he went high and Carl blocked, He ducked low and Carl again tried to block, Brad went all the way down to the yellow line and stopped going down (Out of bounds if you make a pass) Carl kept coming down, but Brad was there. Carl spun off of Brad by coming across Brad's nose. The error lies with Carl. Lap 41 at Atlanta, Carl cut down right in front of Brad, Brad lifted (look at the sudden closing rate of the 71 behind the 12) but the difference in speed was too much. No one's fault in my opinion, just a racing accident that happens and will continue. You can't go for it and not get into accidents. Carl retaliated for something he caused and something that was a no fault. That is inexcusable to me. His comments afterward came off, to me, as "If he knows what is good for him, he won't hit me again." His follow up comments and not showing any remorse for it, really solidify that I do not like him. Brad is an aggressive driver and does not just automatically pull over because one of the top stars wants to come through. That is what Racing is about. Maybe Carl should have just pulled over for the top stars when he started. He needs to grow up and I hope Nascar parks him for some time. I also think that they should make a rule where if you get parked in a race, you are disqualified from the race and get 0 points for it.

[Joe Wicked]

Just heard on ESPN while eating Carl got 3 race probation. That is it. No fine, no points, nothing but a tap on the hand and a gentle, don't do that. He intentionally put Brad's life in danger as well as Fans. He knew that when he did it and did it anyway. Boo on Nascar for this one.

[Ron61]

Just a 3 race probation. That is about as asinine as anything NASCAR has done in the past few years. That is hard to believe. There must be more to it than that.

EDIT: Well they just posted it on the news. Hard to believe. http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/blog/...=nascar,226893

Ron

[Gregg(What's his name)?]

While I really dont think what Carl did on Sunday was very smart. He did what has been done in past. Isnt bump drafting in a corner just as dangerious? Havent we seen the big one a Daytona and Dega caused by bump drafting. NASCAR wants ratings and butts in the seats. I bet you the Bristol event will have more viewers just to tune into the race.
I quit watching NASCAR when the cars went to a brick. The COT is not a production car. It is a NASCARs' version of INDYCAR. Make it the same so every one can play. 10 Million for sponsor ship on a brick.

Bring back the real cars. The Mustang, Camaros and the Challengers. Put a roll cage in the and let see what they will do. Oh wait we do have that and it is the best racing we have. Too bad very few of us watch.

[Wayne Maybury]

Don, really??? That is tax money well spent, isn't it?

I was watching the noon news and they had a bit on about NASCAR and of course it was about the incident on Sunday. The noon news never has anything on about NASCAR so you knew what was coming. Their take was that NASCAR has put retaliation in the hands of the drivers because of poor attendance and sagging TV ratings. They got into rubbin' fenders and tradin' paint stuff and saying how dangerous this is, etc. They showed both the 99 and the 12 upside down at least 3 or 4 times.

I cannot believe that NASCAR is letting Carl get away with this with just a slap on the wrist. I like him a lot but I think that he definitely deserves at least a 3 race suspension. However money talks and NASCAR wants all they can get.

Wayne

[Ron61]

Gregg,

Bring back the real cars. The Mustang, Camaros and the Challengers. Put a roll cage in the and let see what they will do. Oh wait we do have that and it is the best racing we have. Too bad very few of us watch.

I do watch any of it that I can get but they don't show it on TV around here. About the only thing I can get besides NASCAR is the ALS series and once in a while the Australian Super Car races. I really miss the old Trans Am series as they showed those races.

Ron

[Don]

Anyone use Facebook to post Edwards' code of ethics ?

"In a Facebook posting Sunday, Carl Edwards cited his code of ethics for intentionally wrecking Brad Keselowski at Atlanta Motor Speedway ".

Below, it's the end result that needs to be considered. Discharge a firearm and the bullet lodges in a tree, maybe a misdemeanor, if it hits someone, a felony.

" But Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage doesn't believe Edwards deserves to be sat after NASCAR told drivers they would be allowed to police themselves on the track this season, a throwback to the old days when drivers meted out punishment through paybacks.

"I don't know how you suspend him," Gossage says. "Isn't that contradictory to the preseason pronouncements of, 'Have at it, boys'? You didn't tell them how far they can go, and now you're going to severely punish them for doing this?"

NASCAR has shown more leniency lately, electing not to fine or park Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo Montoya for retribution in last season's finale at Homestead. In both instances, the victims' cars remained on the pavement.

"Would we be having this conversation had Brad's car not gotten upside down?" Gossage asked. "Probably not. It's a dilemma." "


Edwards, as an experienced driver knew the possible consequences, no excuses:

" In a TV interview Sunday, Edwards said Keselowski's car going airborne "was not at all what I expected … I'm glad he's OK" but his Facebook message didn't offer any apology for the wreck. "

"Wrote Edwards: "My options: Considering that Brad wrecks me with no regard for anyones safety or hard work, should I: A-Keep letting him wreck me? B-Confront him after the race? C-Wait til bristol and collect other cars? or D-Take care of it now? I want to be clear that I was surprised at his flight and very relieved when he walked away. Every person has to decide what code they want to live by and hopefully this explains mine." "

"The last NASCAR driver suspended was Robby Gordon, who missed the August 2007 race at Pocono Raceway after ignoring a black flag during the Nationwide race in Montreal the previous day. Ted Musgrave (Camping World Truck Series in '07), Jimmy Spencer (Cup in '03) and Kevin Harvick (Cup in '02) also were benched for a race. "

[Don]

Probation...sure leaves it open ended, a political approach, as to what would constitute a violation and what the penalty would be for a violation ?

Keselowski, his start in the Cup series as overly aggressive, same approach he had in Nationwide, as Montoya stated he has wrecked a number of cars.

Would be informative to get Penske's opinion

[Ron61]

MONEY. With the help of the press playing this up NASCAR is hoping to have a large audience watching for pay back in the nest races. Their ratings are down even from last year, they have removed seats from the tracks and still can't fill them, so something drastic has to be done. That really is the most logical explanation for what they did.

Ron

[tcrist]

Well, I can almost bet you what Brad is going to do at Bristol.

[tcrist]

3 race probation is crap. Carl is laughing he a$$ of at it.

[Ron61]

Terry,

It is crap and hard to believe but I still think it is money driven. Now NASCAR has something the media can blow up in hopes of getting more people to come to the next race and watch it on TV. But I think they are playing a dangerous game with this stuff. I am all for letting them race, but not the blatant type of wrecking someone that happened here. I thought sure he would be docked a bunch of points and maybe suspended for a race or two. Now NASCAR has put themselves in a mess as they can't penalize anyone else for doing this as they have already set a precedence. So be prepared for a destruction derby.

Ron

[Wayne Maybury]

Terry
A dozen or so drivers, including Carl Edwards, could get away with this. Just about any of NASCAR's star drivers would receive minimal punishment because of the money that is at stake. If this had been one of the fringe drivers instead of Carl, I think that the punishment would have been much more severe. Of course that is only my opinion and you know what people say about opinions.

In that interview, Mile Helton talked time and again about the car going airborne and how important that was and how it was separate from the initial contact incident, etc. He went on to say that NASCAR is treating this very seriously and going to be doing a full investigation. I found it very strange however that he never mentioned the wing as being a possible cause or even a contributing factor to the car flipping over once it had been turned around. I guess they don't want to admit or suggest that they should never have put a wing on these cars in the first place.

Wayne

[Don]

Public USA Today Poll: 3,859 votes

What's your opinion on Carl Edwards' punishment for bumping Brad Keselowski?

*** Too light. Edwards' actions crossed the line. 61%

*** Just right. The penalty seems appropriate. 21%

*** Too harsh. Didn't NASCAR want self-policing 18%

Comments:

•Robby Gordon, the last driver benched for discipline (August 2007 at Pocono Raceway), wrote: "Just heard the news. I wonder what would of happened to me in that situation? Hmmm someone playing favorites? "

•Kevin Harvick (@kevinharvick), who was parked in an April 2002 race at Martinsville Speedway after rough driving in a Camping World Truck race, said "huh! surprised by the penalty or lack there of....." and "i'm thinking about asking for a refund for all of my penalties!!!!"

• DeLana Harvick (@delanaharvick), Harvick's wife and co-owner of the Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide and truck series, wrote "my heading is spinning. i can't understand what a 3-race probation actually does. maybe @kevinharvick should awe shucks more. seems to work." and later "have no prob w/ heat of the moment racing battles but premeditated 190 mph+ retaliation fires me up."

•Scott Speed (@scottspeed) wrote: "Yo go #nascar!!! 3 race probation for Edwards! Awsome I love it!!! I bet Keslowski is scared now lol"

•ESPN analyst Ray Evernham (@skiprec) wrote, "ok lets get past the penalty and go to work on flying cars, roll cages and tires because it really has been a great race season so far."

•Kasey Kahne (@kaseykahne) wrote, "doesn't sound like favorites to me. Airborne is biggest and only issue. I like Helton's call."

•Elliott Sadler (@elliott_sadler) wrote: "In case anybody was wondering, I have no comment on the 99/12 incident, how about how can we keep cars on ground??"

• And Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) said: "i think everyone needs to take a chill pill. was it ok for brad to spin me in front of the field? how dangerous was that to me."

•Michael Waltrip (@mw55) added: Good call #nascar. You can't ask the driver to take their gloves off one week and then tell em to put em back on the next."

[Don]

Wayne, agree .....not an aero engineer, but when you look at the design of the wing, once the car is partially in the air and/or even slightly sideways/backwards, the bottom portion of the wing provides lift, rather than the intended purpose of down force when the air goes over the top of the car and top of the wing. Might be the wing design over rode the function of the roof flaps which were designed to let the air inside the car escape, and prevent lift. However, by the time the study is completed, the wing will be history in the new museum in Charlotte.

Mike mentions the incident happening on a 1.5 mile track, but speeds are continuously increasing, as evident by Dale JR setting a new track record in qualifying.

Safety wise, the higher green house sure helps if there is compression of the roll cage, to protect the driver. Also, the roll cage design still needs to consider the possibility of having to extract the driver thru the roof depending upon car damage.