Nascar: 2010

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-25-2010, 07:13 AM

Don,

Did you happen to see the 24 hour LeMans race years ago before they put that kink in the long straight away? One of the prototype cars doing well over 200 MPH just slowly took off like an airplane and went up above the trees which it then came down through leaving a trail of broken branches and pieces of cars. They found the driver unhurt except for scrapes and scratches he got from the breaking tree limbs and such and he was just sitting in the roll cage looking kind of stunned. That was why they put that kink in the middle of the straight away to make them slow down a little. They later decided that somehow a small puff of wind got under the car, and at that speed it was like an airplane. I believe that might be the incident that you are referring to. I just happened to be watching the race when it happened and I thought there was no way the driver was going to get out of that without serious injury. And I agree that under car air is a problem, that is why they have the front facia so low that at times it drags, which then also upsets the car. Maybe they should add something like that to the back.

Ron

Silverback51 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-25-2010, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

Don,

Did you happen to see the 24 hour LeMans race years ago before they put that kink in the long straight away? One of the prototype cars doing well over 200 MPH just slowly took off like an airplane and went up above the trees which it then came down through leaving a trail of broken branches and pieces of cars. They found the driver unhurt except for scrapes and scratches he got from the breaking tree limbs and such and he was just sitting in the roll cage looking kind of stunned. That was why they put that kink in the middle of the straight away to make them slow down a little. They later decided that somehow a small puff of wind got under the car, and at that speed it was like an airplane. I believe that might be the incident that you are referring to. I just happened to be watching the race when it happened and I thought there was no way the driver was going to get out of that without serious injury. And I agree that under car air is a problem, that is why they have the front facia so low that at times it drags, which then also upsets the car. Maybe they should add something like that to the back.

Ron

Those were the Mercedes cars. They had an issue that if any air got under the front of the car they took off. They could come of a slight rise, or come out from behind another car and it would happen. They pulled all the cars that year, and if I remember correctly, they did not race again.

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-25-2010, 10:59 AM

John,

You are correct. I was looking for that years race and just found a place that said it was the Mercedes cars. But it was an impressive imitation of an airplane taking off and then crashing through the trees.

Ron

Ron61 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-26-2010, 06:48 AM

Some interesting comments about the spoiler from some of the drivers. It seems the big change in handling that some had feared isn't happening and the drivers that talked about it all seem to like it. That is good and I hope the race this weekend is a good one. The best test I believe will be at the 1 1/2 mile tracks, but Martinsville is always a fun race.

http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2010...poiler.nascar/

Ron

Don · #5 (**permalink**) 03-26-2010, 10:50 AM

Additional comments on the spoiler:

" After a failed 93-race experiment, NASCAR reverts to a traditional blade-like rear spoiler on its Sprint Cup Series cars this weekend at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. But don't expect to see much of a performance difference during the next two races. "

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2010...SCAR/100329923

Ron61 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-27-2010, 05:56 AM

I watched them talk to Jeff Burton who I think is one of the best drivers to interview about the change and he said he likes the spoiler but feels the real test so far as how much if any big difference won't come until they get on one of the longer and faster tracks. Every driver they talked to said they like it and that it looks better than that wing. I was looking forward to the qualifying yesterday but it was rained out. I hope the rain goes away for today's race. And I think the car looks a lot better with the spoiler. Just my opinion as I never liked the look of that wing.

Ron

Don · #7 (**permalink**) 03-27-2010, 08:10 AM

Forbes Annual Ranking (all $ = million )

Top 5 Value of Teams:

HendricK: $350
Roush: $238
Childress: $153
Gibbs: $144
Petty: $124

Highest paid drivers, note all from Hendrick, does not specifically mention what is or what is not included such as TV contracts, endorsements, commercials ,etc or just their driving contract:

Earnhardt: $30
Gordon: $27
Johnson: $23