Nascar: 2010

[Wayne Maybury]

Last Friday, I saw in USA Today that 13 out of 26 "experts" predicted that Jimmie Johnson would win the Daytona 500. I don't think that anyone picked McMurray.

I couldn't find a channel that carried the last 39 laps so I missed the finish.

One of the reasons that they have so many laps under caution is to allow everyone to go in the pits to get gas and tires. There are 2 ways to make a caution shorter. Firstly, go back to green the second that the piece of debris has been picked up even if 30 or 40 cars are in the pits. Secondly, run the pace car flat out like they do in F1, none of this 55 mph crap. In other words make pitting under caution somewhat of a risk instead of a routine. I also agree that they should not count the laps under cautrion as has already been mentioned.

Wayne

[Don]

Cup series caution Laps, 2009 not available, with 10,707 laps run for all the Cup races:

2008: 1445/13.7%
2007: 1615/15.0%
2006: 1578/14.7%
2005: 1786/16.6 %

Includes all types of cautions: debris, accidents, competition. In the 2009 Daytona 500 , 35 caution laps of which 4 were for debris only. But the race was shortened due to rain.

The 2010 Daytona had 21 lead changes, a new record for the race and track.

Whether the caution laps are legitimate ( debris ? ) or too many/long, possibility of additional 13 to 16 % + or - laps, extending the race. Then there is the situation of clearing the accidents with wreckers and medical personnel on the track with the pace car at full speed.

Wayne, Firstly, go back to green the second that the piece of debris has been picked up even if 30 or 40 cars are in the pits. Sure would add more race strategy for running on the old tires and the decision of filling a tank when only needing a few or less gallons. Believe it was Johnson that either did not pit for tires or took only 2 to get track position in his 125 win, but that's probably why the #48 has been successful.

rustyBob........good point.

[Wayne Maybury]

Don

I am not suggesting that the pace car should rip through the medical staff and/or emergency equipment at full speed. However I do get tired of watching that pace car plod along at 55 mph going round and round giving every car a chance to get into the pits, fill up, and get new rubber every 10 or 15 minutes while the TV channel runs their manditory 3 or 4 minutes of commercials.

I guess that phantom debris is the one that really drives me nuts. Even some little chunk of metal or plastic seems to result in 5 or more caution laps when 1 lap is more than enough to get the piece of junk off of the track.

Wayne