5 replies to this topic

[Qik Nip]

I walked past the TV last weekend and my Nascar fan wife was watching the Cup Car practice at Datona. Unless I was mistaken, in that brief glimpse, did I detect that the two car drafting deal has been re-eclipsed by a multi car draft? And if so, what was the physical change that altered it?
Rick
P.S. The two car tango eliminated the ony thing (the big one) thart made watching the super speedway races bearable IHMO)

[LarryKing]

I believe that eliminating the 2-car draft was NASCAR's intention, as well as to speed-up the cars. I'm guessing through plate and aero changes.

Think of Daytona as the Superbowl. For instance, I could give a rats about football or any of the teams but I'll watch the Superbowl for the spectacle and the bizarro marketing campaigns (seriously - do outrageous commercials really move product???)

Anywho, I usually make a pot of chili, pop a cold one and watch the commercials with occasional cars going 'round in a circle. Go Danica (big fan, big fan)

[steveracer]

The little bit of testing I watched had Kyle Busch being pushed by keselowski to 202+, a 3 car draft was 2-3 mph slower.

[dstevens]

Dustin Long has a pretty good piece on it in SI online. http://sportsillustr...ting/index.html Still a long time between now and the first race in terms of the schedules these folks keep.

[Jim Creighton]

If any of you care, the inside line says that the increased RP (yes, NASCAR has RP's) size allows for more HP & RPM giving the cars more ability to move forward when breaking the draft. NASCAR has also played with the grill opening size and the water pressure. This prevents cars from staying in 2 cars tandems The unexpected problem is increased oil temperature that will not cool as rapidly as before when the draft is broken. And problems developed with over heating before getting on track. They did increase water pressure but left grill opening smaller.

My prediction is the 2 car tandem will still be the hot ticket and Toni Stewart has every intention to pushing Danica to the front. Of course, NASCAR can make changes at anytime and that includes right up to the green flag.

I tried to convince an unnamed to approach the Busch brothers with the idea of getting to together and forming their own bad boy team with sponsors who appeal to ........ and I'll leave it to your imagination to the sponsor and Miata drivers who would be fans. BTW, he/she actually thought it was a good idea and that the team would have no problems securing sponsorship. Paying all the fines might be a challenge.

[dstevens]

The plates are only for Daytona and 'Dega. Because it's a throttle body they use plates instead of the ECU. There was talk of using more of the computer but I think the crew chiefs feel better with more mechanical solutions. I mean, it only took them 20 years to go from carbs to FI....