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

[Don]

From the Associated Press: Start & Park

" At Vegas, it was Aric Almirola in a car owned by Phoenix Racing that ducked off the track after 23 laps for what was listed as a vibration. The Team collected $79,431 for the effort "

NASCAR is trying to make it tougher on start-and-parks with a new policy of inspecting the first car out of the race that wasn't involved in an accident. It could force Teams to run longer, or, at the minimum, ensure the cars will be forced to prove they are legal and made the race fair and square "

So called complete inspections include a motor tear down to the bare block, as NASCAR hands the Team back the parts. Other Teams that do not qualify have stated their intention is to run the entire race.

[Ron61]

That is one of the changes I would like to see made. The start and park group just messes up the standings as they always make sure that none of the top people can finish last if they wreck early because they have already taken the last several spots.

Ron

[Ron61]

Well I was happy to see Bush win, but I thought that Carl Edwards acted about as stupid as a driver can. So he was mad about being bumped in the early stages and wrecking. That was one of those close racing incidents and what he did near the end was ridiculous. BK has wrecking people by accident down to an art and a lot of drivers are just waiting to get back at him, but this was a dangerous move on Edwards part. Maybe once they get rid of that asinine wing the cars won't go airborne so fast. But all in all it was a better race than normal. Jeff Gordon sure had his problems and so did a lot of others with the tire issue. But I feel that was more of a set up problem than anything wrong with the tires.

Ron

[Wayne Maybury]

Some thoughts on the race yesterday.

- Some good racing, some bad wrecks.
- I thought that Kasie Kane had the best car but he got hung up during the final re-start and just didn't have a chance to catch Kurt Busch.
- Several of the Fords did very well. This is the fiest time this season that the Ford power was impressive. Are they running the new engine now?
- Almost all of the Chevies had tire problems, really strange.
- I was disappointed in the way Carl Edwards handled the situation late in the race. This was very dangerous and could have turned out much worse.
- The Edwards incident all but proves that the wing is responsible for these cars turning upside down.
- Lots and lots of empty seats at Atlanta.

Wayne

[Ron61]

Wayne,

I thought the three best cars were Bush, Kane, and Montoya. Bush had the best car all day on the short runs and then Kane and Montoya would catch and pass him. In this situation where there were only a few laps left, I felt Bush would win and he did a good job.

As for the Chevies, I think they just had to much tilt built into the wheels. Even the back ones were wearing out the inside of the tires where they had tilted them in. A bad miscalculation on the part of Childress and Hendrick teams. Look at Jeff Gordon. He was running 3rd and they had just said he had the fastest car out there and all of a sudden he is in the pits and laps down. Jimmy Johnson had the same problems but I think he took it easier on his tires than the others. He saw what was going on and decided to get the best finish he could and not wreck.

And there were lots of empty seats. And I think there will be for quite a while to come. NASCAR has ruined their racing with all of their have to control everything from the car to the springs and etc.

Ron

[Don]

What has happened in the past, and whoever was at fault, between Edwards and Keselowski, did in no way justify Edwards intentional move to wreck him. Besides destroying a $100K+ race car which is only money, the possibility of the car or debris going into the stands, the human tragedy. The commentators mentioned seeing Edwards, with his white gloves, turning right.

With all the criticism regarding COT & NASCAR, amazing the driver survived and was able to walk to the ambulance, initially with a slight limp. The higher by approx 5" greenhouse above the driver's head and revised roll cage helped in minimizing the compression. With or without the wing and going to a spoiler, a car can still flip.

The fines, not sure if the driver really pays 100% or the Team's owner helps to pay some or all. The link below mentions that NASCAR will meet today/tomorrow to arrive at a penalty. There would be more impact to the driver and Team, with sponsor consequences, if both the driver AND the car are suspended, 5 races would be fine. Roush was all over Busch a few years ago for his antics, wonder how he will handle Edwards.The loss of points for 5 races would more than likely eliminate Edwards from the Chase.

"But the most dramatic event in the closing laps was an incident between Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards, who had been locked in a shoving match for several laps. As the duo streaked across the start/finish line with two laps to go, Edwards appeared to intentionally nudge Keselowski's left rear quarter-panel, propelling Keselowski into the wall and then airborne before ferociously smashing his upturned car into first the wall and then the track surface.

"The No. 99 just wrecked me intentionally on the straightaway," Keselowski said as he left he infield care center, where he had been seen and released. "I was cutting him some slack because I knew he was angry, but I guess it wasn't enough slack, and he about killed me."

Edwards was promptly black-flagged and ordered to the NASCAR hauler.

"Brad knows the deal between him and I," Edwards said. "The scary part was his car went airborne, which was not at all what I expected. I wish it wouldn't have gone like it did, but I'm glad he's okay ... maybe him and I won't get in any more incidents together." "

Additional:

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=359641