NASCAR Chase On - Page 6

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 07:45 AM

Pat,

You are correct about that. I just don't like the NASCAR interviews as they are so scripted and I don't personally dislike JJ. I just don't like his interviews as he seems so detached from everything. I do think he is a good driver and he and his team work together better than any other in NASCAR.

But I still don't much care for the direction that NASCAR is going. To me most of the races are just boring and I don't enjoy the wrecks as I don't want to see anyone get hurt. Like the one that Newman had at Talladega. Get rid of restrictor plates. the Lucky Dog rule, and let the teams do what they can and stay within the limits. We need more of the Smoky Unik type who can find and use every little gray area to make it fun again.

Ron

Ralphy · #2 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 08:10 AM

Up beat emotional interviews sell well to the fans. But that is not in any formula to win races. It bothers me also that JJ is so placid, as a fan. But, if you ever hear him and Chad on the radio during a race. The emotional flat line works well in getting things accomplished. I remember an Indy race where they monitored the drivers heart rate. Every single drivers pulse went up nearing the start except for one driver, and that was AJ Foyt. To me that shows a very focused mind.

JJ looks like he has to act after winning a race. OK be happy!

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 08:25 AM

I remember once a few years ago when AJ Foyt had a car in NASCAR and it ran out of gas. He grabbed the laptop that his crew chief was using and threw it on the ground and jumped up and down on it. They had to bleep out most of what he said but at least he shows some emotion and always has even when he was driving in the Indy cars. And as I have already said, JJ and his crew work together better than any other in NASCAR, including Jeff Gordon. JJ just radios in what is going on with details and Chad tells him we will take care of it, just hang on. On the other hand you have Bush screaming at his crew and they can't do anything right and that is not going to make any crew chief very happy.

Ron

Ralphy · #4 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 08:31 AM

I also remember AJ pitting with troubles. Finally getting out of his car, pushing a crew member and grabbing the hammer the crew guy had and begins to beat on his own car. He was trying to fix it not beating it in anger. That was later in his racing age. lol!

rustyBob · #5 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 11:59 AM

I was watching one of the programs and Greg Biffle, Jimmy Spencer, and Michael Waltrip all agree the races need to be shortened by at least 100 laps and maybe more and they should drop Martinsville and maybe only run 30 races a year and no points after 35th place finish.

Ron61 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 02:08 PM

I saw that also. I wish they would run more road course races and more short tracks where the aero isn't everything. I heard that NASCAR is going to make a bunch of changes for next year but I don't know what or if they really are. Just the normal rumors going around with so many sponsors dropping out and people looking for rides. I did see that Robby Gordon has found a full time sponsor for next year.

Ron

Don · #7 (**permalink**) 11-13-2009, 01:33 PM

Ryan graduated from Purdue with a degree in Engineering. Prior to Talladega, he has made the point that the rear wing design creates lift rather than down force when the race car is in the air and/or is turned backwards.

From AutoWeek.com

Quote of the week: This is an excerpt from Ryan Newman's meeting with the media at the Texas Motor Speedway and refers to his ongoing complaints about the current aerodynamics on the COT when it comes to accidents at Talladega:

"From an engineering standpoint, whatever we can do speed-wise and aerodynamically to keep the cars on the ground, in particular things in the back of the car, when it sees the air first for downforce, keep the lift out of the back of the cars is what we need to focus on. There has been testing done.

"I learned some of that stuff on Wednesday morning talking to Mr. (John) Darby and Mr. (Robin) Pemberton, that they have tested. But I don't know that they have tested everything. I don't know that you can test everything. But obviously more testing needs to be done in order to make it safer for everybody. Speed is a part of it. The faster you go, the more likely you are to take lift.

"We were talking before, an airplane takes off at 160 miles an hour. We're 40 miles an hour above that at times. There's plenty of potential for a car to take lift, whether it's going forwards, backwards or sideways. We have to take everything into consideration, as drivers, as teams, as a sanctioning body, to control that situation."

Ron61 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-14-2009, 02:22 AM

There have been complaints about that wing causing lift ever since they put it on the car. But NASCARs answer was with the car design the old type spoiler like the other cars had would block the drivers rear vision, thus the wing lets them see past it.

Ron

Don · #9 (**permalink**) 11-14-2009, 07:21 AM

Ron, the drivers have also complained that the elevated wing on the trunk inhibits rear vision, since it is placed mid-height to the rear window, as compared to the spoiler laying flat on the trunk, comparison was made to the Nationwide series, had not previously heard of the version you mention ?

Maybe it's possible both versions exist, depending upon the driver.

rustyBob · #10 (**permalink**) 11-15-2009, 08:41 PM

i am so sick of hearing.......Jimmy Johnson is our leader...........i never voted for him..
good run by Burton.....

Ron61 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009, 04:00 AM

Bob,

Well he all but clinched the championship yesterday and with just one race to go we will get a break from the NASCAR shows. I thought that maybe Curt Bush might be able to run with hm but he couldn't and it turned into a JJ led race all the way once he got in front. I wish it had been another driver, but we will see some history made next weekend. Also noticed they had several empty seats as usual lately.

Ron

rustyBob · #12 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009, 07:05 AM

yeah........Mark still has a slim chance..........
there was only one caution that was questionable.......for debris in the turn that they never showed........
as far as history goes.......that like saying that all of Bonds home runs were legit......

Wayne Maybury · #13 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009, 07:19 AM

Considering that these are basically spec racing cars, Johnson's team certaining does do a good job in all aspects. They are well prepared, they do a good job in the pits, and ofcourse JJ does a very good job on the track.

As far as the rear wing goes, I always thought that it had a "ricer" look to it. It sure looks out of place on the back of a "stock car".

It appeared that there were not nearly as many empty seats yesterday as we have seen the past few weeks but I did notice that yesterday, they were advertising tickets for the Daytona 500 for "as low as $55". Tickets sales must be slow.

Wayne

Don · #14 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009, 07:24 AM

JJ needs to finish 26th or 27th, or higher at Homestead and he wins the Cup series. Dave Despain mentioned on Wind Tunnel last night that prior to the Chase concept, there have been times the point spread between 1st & 2nd going into the last race has been greater then JJ & Mark Martin

The #48 & 5 will be back at the NASCAR R & D Center in Charlotte today for a thorough inspection........are they legal or ? These two cars have had numerous post race inspections at the R & D.

Dave also mentioned that Chad Knaus, #48 Crew Chief, replays and studies the race and pit stop tapes , what could have been done better.

For " spec " cars sure is a vast difference in performance, might be Hendrick cars & drivers are at the top of their game. Dave also mentioned that Burton/Childress are rebuilding their cars, better performance the last 3 weeks with a new Crew Chief.

Don · #15 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009, 07:36 AM

Wayne...

" they were advertising tickets for the Daytona 500 for "as low as $55". Tickets sales must be slow. "

Believe these are the seats at the bottom. Other tracks are doing the same. My seats at New Hampshire are at the top, no price reduction, but like all the years in the past , to keep the same seats, must pay by Dec 1 for the 2010 Sept race.

It was mentioned that NASCAR had a higher concern on the slip in TV ratings, than the reduction in attendance at the track, considering the economic conditions as a contributor. The best seats at New Hampshire are $110, expensive day for a family.

Wayne Maybury · #16 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009, 08:26 AM

Don, that does get expensive. I assume that they don't give away the hot dogs or beer either.

TV revenue seems to drive everything now. F1 has moved many of their races to the middle east or wherever since these places build new circuits and guarantee huge amounts of $$$$$. However, there are actually not very many people in the stands as they depend on TV revenue instead of the gate. Baseball's World Series scheduling is now dictated by the TV network as this is where the money is. NASCAR is in the same boat.

Wayne

Bill Bess · #17 (**permalink**) 11-17-2009, 04:54 AM

Hendricks = money/leadership + discipline + best teams + best drivers + best progam + best crew chiefs + consistency + Jimmie Johnson , Mark & Jeff + smartest drivers....= winning championships ...OH Ya, a lots of luck too.

Don · #18 (**permalink**) 11-17-2009, 06:04 AM

Regarding the virtues of the Hendrick organization and #48 Team, rebuilding the front suspension/steering, cooling, rear end/suspension, hang new front sheet metal, all in 68 minutes. Then go back out to the track, run at a competitive speed, passing other cars, with only a tire rub on the front which was quickly fixed.

By the time the #48 was back in the garage after the wreck, the parts had been obtained from the hauler and each crew member knew their assignment.

Rather than finish 43rd, finishing at 38th allowed for a few more points, which might just be needed after the final race this weekend

JJ & Team reached a point in the race due to the laps lost in the garage fixing the wreck, their finish position could not be improved. Rather than leave the race and be scored with a DNF, finished the race on the track. JJ remained in the car during the entire 68 minutes.

Darrell Waltrip mentioned on Dave Despain's Wind Tunnel, the knack that Hendrick has in selecting the people on his Teams, possibly with the exception of the #88 Dale JR, which will finish around 23rd/24th. But, Dale had more mis-adventures, not necessarily all his fault, than the other 3 Hendrick Teams combined

Ron61 · #19 (**permalink**) 11-17-2009, 06:59 AM

Don,

Dale Jr. is not the driver his Father was either and when Hendrick first signed him he brought that cousin along as his crew chief. He could not get a car set up well at Earnheart Corp. and never could. The past few races Jr. has ran better for longer than has been the norm. He would start out well and then just sort of fade away. Maybe next year will be different for him. And he has had some bad luck with engines and other things. But at times so have most of the others. And as mentioned above, luck plays a big part in any type of sports if you win a championship.

Ron

Ralphy · #20 (**permalink**) 11-17-2009, 07:28 AM

I guess JJ has been lucky for four years now! lol