NasCzar
2006-07-24 14:33:17 UTC
If you could change (or create) just one NASCAR rule, what would it be, and
why?
For me, that rule would be: No pitting under caution. The penalty would be
one lap and back of the pack. When the caution flag flies, everybody holds
their position on track until the restart.
Pros:
1. Pit crew safety. Currently, having all the cars come in nose to tail is
arguably the most dangerous situation for the pit crews. If the cars pitted
under green they would be more spread out, even if everyone pitted on the
same lap.
2. Shorter caution periods = more green flag racing. You could often skip
the multiple laps of caution needed to 1) gather up the field behind the
pace car 2) lead lap cars pit 3) lapped cars pit 4) double up the field
behind the pace car. If all that is needed is to go pick up a piece of
debris, you could be back to racing in just two laps.
3. Fewer half-fixed race cars running around the track dropping parts and
fluids trying to stay on the same lap after a wreck. Since you are going to
get a one lap penalty and start at the back of the pack, you might as well
take the extra time to repair the damage as best you can.
4. Fewer races decided by fuel conservation strategies. You couldn't risk
stretching a tank of gas to the very last lap lest the caution come out
before you pit.
5. No more double-file restarts (see below, too.) It has always bothered
me that a car that had been lapped by the top ten cars (for example) is
allowed to pull up beside the leader.
6. No more confusion caused by cars at the tail end of the lead lap. The
twits at TNT failed to notice on the lap 195 restart at Loudon that 7 cars
that were a lap down that had not unlapped themselves by not pitting were
allowed to pull up beside the first car at the tail end of the lead lap
instead of pulling up beside the leader, 8 cars back. This effectively
unlapped them without them doing anything to earn it, and also allowed them
to gain positions on the cars that were at the tail end of the lead lap. (I
really need accurate lap charts to figure out exactly who gained an unfair
advantage, so if anybody has a source for those, please let me know!)
7. Cars that are trapped laps down by a caution won't be at a disadvantage,
because they will gain those laps back when the other cars pit under green,
too.
Cons:
1. A lot more confusion on timing and scoring, because there will be a lot
more green flag pit stops jumbling up the running order.
2. It won't be as obvious to the fans at the track or TV viewers which
drivers and crews gained or lost on pit stops.
3. No more double-file restarts. I will admit that this makes the racing
more exciting, even if it is often unfair to the lead lap cars.
4. More arguments between Larry and Darrell or Wally and Benny about pit
strategy (do we really want to give them MORE to talk about?)
Let me know what you think about my rule, and tell me about yours!
why?
For me, that rule would be: No pitting under caution. The penalty would be
one lap and back of the pack. When the caution flag flies, everybody holds
their position on track until the restart.
Pros:
1. Pit crew safety. Currently, having all the cars come in nose to tail is
arguably the most dangerous situation for the pit crews. If the cars pitted
under green they would be more spread out, even if everyone pitted on the
same lap.
2. Shorter caution periods = more green flag racing. You could often skip
the multiple laps of caution needed to 1) gather up the field behind the
pace car 2) lead lap cars pit 3) lapped cars pit 4) double up the field
behind the pace car. If all that is needed is to go pick up a piece of
debris, you could be back to racing in just two laps.
3. Fewer half-fixed race cars running around the track dropping parts and
fluids trying to stay on the same lap after a wreck. Since you are going to
get a one lap penalty and start at the back of the pack, you might as well
take the extra time to repair the damage as best you can.
4. Fewer races decided by fuel conservation strategies. You couldn't risk
stretching a tank of gas to the very last lap lest the caution come out
before you pit.
5. No more double-file restarts (see below, too.) It has always bothered
me that a car that had been lapped by the top ten cars (for example) is
allowed to pull up beside the leader.
6. No more confusion caused by cars at the tail end of the lead lap. The
twits at TNT failed to notice on the lap 195 restart at Loudon that 7 cars
that were a lap down that had not unlapped themselves by not pitting were
allowed to pull up beside the first car at the tail end of the lead lap
instead of pulling up beside the leader, 8 cars back. This effectively
unlapped them without them doing anything to earn it, and also allowed them
to gain positions on the cars that were at the tail end of the lead lap. (I
really need accurate lap charts to figure out exactly who gained an unfair
advantage, so if anybody has a source for those, please let me know!)
7. Cars that are trapped laps down by a caution won't be at a disadvantage,
because they will gain those laps back when the other cars pit under green,
too.
Cons:
1. A lot more confusion on timing and scoring, because there will be a lot
more green flag pit stops jumbling up the running order.
2. It won't be as obvious to the fans at the track or TV viewers which
drivers and crews gained or lost on pit stops.
3. No more double-file restarts. I will admit that this makes the racing
more exciting, even if it is often unfair to the lead lap cars.
4. More arguments between Larry and Darrell or Wally and Benny about pit
strategy (do we really want to give them MORE to talk about?)
Let me know what you think about my rule, and tell me about yours!
--
The NasCzar
Overheard on the radio at Darlington:
Junior Johnson: "Darrell, what turns are you having trouble in?"
Darrell Waltrip (in a high-pitched voice): "The lefts!"
The NasCzar
Overheard on the radio at Darlington:
Junior Johnson: "Darrell, what turns are you having trouble in?"
Darrell Waltrip (in a high-pitched voice): "The lefts!"