2253 replies to this topic

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

JPM

i can't tell if you're seriously impressed or are just being sarcastic

[tefnut]

at risk of derailing this thread, can someone explain to me what's all this noise about restrictor plates at some races and the chase in whatever the hell JPM is doing

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

at risk of derailing this thread, can someone explain to me what's all this noise about restrictor plates at some races and the chase in whatever the hell JPM is doing

im sure someone who actually follows nascar can give a more detailed explanation but my understanding is that certain tracks (talledega + daytona) require the cars to run air restrictor plates in order to cut the power output of the engines for safety reasons.

i think the nationwide series is the division 2 of nascar, whereas the sprint cup is like the premier league.. i really don't understand what constitutes the chase and what doesnt, but it tends to be a huge talking point amongst nascar types in fall, so i guess its like a drivers championship of sorts that doesnt really start until late in the season?? i could be wrong, this is what i've picked up form turning on speedtv too early for f1, or just leaving ESPN sports center on in the background..

[Skyliner]

im sure someone who actually follows nascar can give a more detailed explanation but my understanding is that certain tracks (talledega + daytona) require the cars to run air restrictor plates in order to cut the power output of the engines for safety reasons.

i think the nationwide series is the division 2 of nascar, whereas the sprint cup is like the premier league.. i really don't understand what constitutes the chase and what doesnt, but it tends to be a huge talking point amongst nascar types in fall, so i guess its like a drivers championship of sorts that doesnt really start until late in the season?? i could be wrong, this is what i've picked up form turning on speedtv too early for f1, or just leaving ESPN sports center on in the background..

The Chase is with 10 (I think) races left they take the top 12 (I think it is now) drivers in the standings and reset the points. Then in those last races only those top 12 drivers are competing for the championship.

Fuck it, here's wikipedia's explanation:

After the first 26 races, a cut is made, with the twelve highest drivers and teams (plus ties) placed in the Chase for the Championship (or simply "The Chase"). The Chase participants have their points increased to a level mathematically unattainable by anyone outside this field (roughly 1800 points ahead of the first driver outside of the Chase). Each driver who makes the Chase will receive 5,000 points, plus 10 additional points for each race he won during the first 26 races. Race layouts remain the same and points are scored the same way in the final 10 races. Whoever leads in points after the 36th race is declared the Sprint Cup champion.

And yeah, the restrictor plates are just air restrictors for the carburetor.

They started doing it because of the cars going too fast at the superspeedways. Years ago Bobby Allison wrecked into the fence at Talladega and hurt some spectators.

"NASCAR routinely states that the Sprint Cup restrictor plate reduces engine power from approximately 750 hp to approximately 430 hp."

[yonson]

Before they started this restrictor plate bullshit (yes I know I'm showing my age again) Taladega used to be my favorite race (I started watching with my parents when I was 4 or 5 at least that's as far back as I can remember watching a race).

Bill Elliott has always and will always be my favorite NASCAR racer!!!!

x 11ty to the following!

May 5, 1985: Bill Elliott sets a 500-mile race record, winning the Winston 500 at an average speed of 186.288 mph. Elliott won the race despite losing nearly two laps during a lengthy early pit stop to fix a broken oil line, and despite the race only having two caution flags. Elliott made up the entire distance he lost under one lengthy, green-flag period

April 30, 1987: Bill Elliott sets the all-time NASCAR qualifying record, winning the pole for the Winston 500 at a speed of 212.809 mph (342.483 km/h)

[yonson]

And this chase bullshit is one of many reasons I'm pissed as NASCAR for ruining the sport I grew up loving

[MrHahn]

i can't tell if you're seriously impressed or are just being sarcastic

werd

[Skyliner]

[vietlol]

"Getting this pole is pretty cool," said Montoya, who had not taken pole position for a major race since the 2005 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix.



heh, go juan

[tefnut]

[kngrsll]

[Redliner]

[yonson]

Holy shit, did anyone watch the NASCRAP race??? Damn what an ending! Sux that my favorite current driver (Carl Edwards) had that happen to him though

[yonson]

Ohhh yeah, Scott Speed finished 5th and JPM finished 20th...

[Skyliner]

Holy shit, did anyone watch the NASCRAP race??? Damn what an ending! Sux that my favorite current driver (Carl Edwards) had that happen to him though

8 fans hurt, 2 airlifted, no life-threatening injuries



Edwards got out of the car and ran across the finish line.

[Skyliner]

For reference here's the aftermath of the Allison wreck referenced earlier:

[_R_]

i can't tell if you're seriously impressed or are just being sarcastic

JPM will always have a spot on my roster...
JPM + cold tires =

only guy really to get under Shummi's skin

[MrHahn]

JPM will always have a spot on my roster...
JPM + cold tires =

only guy really to get under Shummi's skin

I think that face, his voice and constant complaining is enough to get under anyones skin

[vietlol]

JPM was a true F1 hero and its a real shame he went to nascrap

[Redliner]

Edwards seems pretty cool, crossing the finishing line like that.

It says a lot about our society and how we (not F1-crew) value our short-term pleasure. I just read a quip on Autoblog and the lead-off to this NASCAR crash article was "Most NASCAR fans love a good crash, because there are few things in sports more spectacular than flying metal at 200 mph."

I could care less about a "good" crash to be honest. I love seeing cars battle for a corner. not so much when they wreck and cause a safety car...

[_R_]

News time!!!

As McLaren's difficult season hit a high point with fourth place in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton admitted he did consider throwing in the towel. Amid scandals and public criticism, the reigning world champion said he recently paused seriously to reflect on his negative image.

"I wasn't 100 percent sure I wanted to be here for the next five years," the Briton told the BBC.

"There was so much going on. Do I want to be in the limelight with people slating me? Do I want be in the spotlight where I can't even go... to go to the fish and chip shop or the cinema and have fun without people taking pictures of me?"

Hamilton, 24, ultimately concluded that driving a F1 car to success was most important, and - despite admitting his earlier indecision - wonders why his commitment to the team was ever questioned.

"My commitment should never be questioned because I'm very committed to the sport and I'm very, very committed to my team," he insisted.

But Hamilton said his questionable commitment when addressing the media a week ago in China was "because I wasn't 100 percent sure I would be here (in F1) for the next five years."

He said some of the shine of being a Formula One driver is now completely gone.

"I love driving the car. I love my job. But when you're surrounded by politics and all these different things going on, you know ..." said Hamilton.

welcome to F1... we know drama...

McLaren Mercedes will face the FIA next Wednesday without its usual swathe of lawyers.

Amid the 'lie-gate' scandal, the British team has been summoned to the World Motor Sport Council to face multiple charges of fraud.

But, as indicated in boss Martin Whitmarsh's leaked letter to FIA President Max Mosley, McLaren is simply prepared to face the consequences for lying to the stewards in Australia and Malaysia.

The team's approach to the Paris hearing means Whitmarsh will simply front up alone, not contesting the charges. The approach is expected to net a points deduction and suspended race ban, but not harsher penalties like exclusion or draconian fines.

"I will go into the hearing alone.
But I have yet to take the advice of the stakeholders and the FIA," Whitmarsh said in Bahrain on Sunday.

"It's not a complicated hearing. We have chosen not to contest the charges and that makes the process simpler," he added.

McLaren has had a rough 3 seasons now... just quit cheating fuckers... if you're going to cheat, get a better coverup story...

Michael Schumacher never occupied a crucial role at Ferrari in his years outside the cockpit, team President Luca di Montezemolo insisted on a visit to Bahrain on Sunday.

"He came to a few races last year, he came at the beginning of this season and he will come again," the Italian is quoted as telling reporters at Sakhir by the German SID news agency.

"But he does not have a responsible role because he does not have the time to be at Maranello," Montezemolo added.

Schumacher, 40, was harshly criticised for his role in strategy blunders when he stood on the Ferrari pitwall in Australia and Malaysia.

Montezemolo said: "He gives ideas and proposals as an advisor - no more and no less. "

He said he once asked the German to take over from Jean Todt as Team Principal, but Schumacher emphatically answered ‘no’.

"Michael has a good mentality, but I understand that his life is now something else. So I asked him to come to a few races and support us," said Montezemolo.

Meanwhile, when asked to summarise F1's new pecking order that has left Ferrari ninth in the constructors' championship, Montezemolo hit out at "very badly written rules."

just quit showing up to races, Kimi sucks when you're there.... hmm...

Formula One's doors have not been completely closed to Silverstone, Bernie Ecclestone insists.

The F1 chief executive last year signed a contract to switch the British Grand Prix to Donington from 2010, vowing never to return to the Northamptonshire circuit owned by the British Racing Drivers' Club.

It is often suggested that, contrary to Ecclestone's argument that the Silverstone facilities are not up to date, the 78-year-old simply does not get along with those who run the BRDC.

But with reports now doubting Donington's chances of being ready for 2010, Ecclestone has denied that his mind is totally closed to the prospect of ever returning to Silverstone.

"If they were to do what they should have done, and what we've been asking them to do for five years, we'd have to have a look at it," he told London's Times newspaper. "We've got nothing against Silverstone."

However, he denied BRDC President Damon Hill's assertion that talks have already taken place.

"No, I'm not talking to them," Ecclestone told the magazine GPWeek.

eh...

[_R_]

[MrHahn]

just quit showing up to races, Kimi sucks when you're there or not.... hmm...



eh...

fixed

Unless you classify last race as not sucking

[_R_]

Speculation that the Spanish bank Santander is set to switch from McLaren to Ferrari got a fresh shot in the arm last weekend.

Photographed entering the famous Italian team's private building in Bahrain, for a 20 minute meeting with Luca di Montezemolo, was Santander boss Emilio Botin.

Spain's Marca sports newspaper reports that Botin also met with Fernando Alonso at the Sakhir track, as well as Bernie Ecclestone.

Botin's meeting with Ecclestone explains the F1 Chief Executive's eye-wateringly bright red jacket on the grid of the Sakhir race: apparently it was a gift from the Santander chief.

[_R_]

Unless you classify last race as not sucking

the car blows... Kimi did score Ferrari's first and only points so far this season