Not a NASCAR fan but

[Wilhelm]

Originally Posted by milt

You need to think this through. I have worked a NASCAR race as a safety worker. I don't care if the car is still running and can limp to the pit. The other cars at speed can close very quickly. The longest tracks are Daytona and Talladega and laps are turned in the low 50 second range. That gives the limping car about 30 seconds to clear the racing surface after coming to a rest which includes anything on the track side of the walls and barriers.

Spinning cars often throw grass and dirt up on the track. The reason for the spin can be a fluid leak. Lots of times a few parts fall off. Until the situation can be assessed, a caution is just that, a cautionary approach to the conditions of the track. They just come around too quickly. What is a lap at Bristol, 15 seconds?

You might want to attend a pre race safety meeting sometime, even at your local DE. There is a reason you must pit if you spin and if a local yellow flager sees something, the track will go red (or black).

I will defer to your experience Milt. Hell, I have never even been to a NASCAR race ! It just seems like they sure like to throw that yellow flag. The guys racing in NASCAR are pros, not club racers. Thats why they make the big bucks.
Seems like a car limping to the pits way down below the racing line shouldnt be a problem for a professional driver even if there is a little grass and dirt on the track .. And they all have "spotters" these days. That would certainly seem to be a big safety advantage for a professional driver.

Obviously if the track is covered with debris and dirt/grass, fluids, thats a different situation.

[Heel n Toe]

Check out this 2-minute 2004 video news segment on Bayne and his talents in the world of karting...
try to forget all the cynicism most of us have towards NASCAR... you just gotta enjoy the kid's obvious love of racing:
http://www.wbir.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=797337989001#/Web%20Extra%3A%20Story%20about%20Trevor%20Bayne%20 from%202004/797337989001

Another one from 2006... at 15, he wasn't even old enough to have a driver's license, but he was driving a
race car that had 360 HP:
http://www.wbir.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=798102783001#/Local%20News/Web%20extra%3A%202006%20profile%20on%20Trevor%20Ba yne/44024439001/39627146001/798102783001

[Rikao4]

if it can be raced I will check it out..
boats,planes & cars..
watching some of the in car footage tells me..
3 abreast on 30 degree banking in tandem @190+ takes skill & nuts..

Rika

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by Wilhelm

"So, you'd have them racing with a tow truck out there on the grass and then the apron? I've seen workers hit by spinning cars even under a caution."

No Milt. I wouldnt let them race if the incident was a STALLED/CRASHED car CLOSE to the track. But I have seen some cases where the guy just loops it a few times without hitting anything and goes on his way at somewhat reduced speed way down low on the track off the racing line , and they throw a caution .

I remember at least once where a guy spun once- like 360- kept it on track, and just happened to be right in front of the pit lane entry at the time of the caution. And he needed a pit stop right about then but did not want to loose position. How convenient is that?

[VaSteve]

LOL, that's the dumbest thing I ever heard. Spun himself to get a caution? Ever spun at the track? Its not exactly something youy *want* to do. I don't know about that incident you refer to but generally you're not allowed to pit without penalty immediately under the caution you caused. That's the purpose of the yellow flag with the red X.

[regency]

Not a real big fan of Nascar, actualy like the race but it's the "pre-pre-pre" race shows hosted by hillbillies with hi voices. Then there's the "post-post-post" race shows too.

Steve

73 911T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

[Flieger]

Originally Posted by regency

Not a real big fan of Nascar, actualy like the race but it's the "pre-pre-pre" race shows hosted by hillbillies with hi voices. Then there's the "post-post-post" race shows too.

Steve

73 911T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

Maybe they will have to cut some of those since he is doing Top Gear US now.