Posted on 03/26/2002 6:42:11 AM PST by meandog
By Chris Jenkins, USA TODAY
Last weekend's Jerry Springer-style antics at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway brought down five-figure fines and probation on Kevin Harvick and Robby Gordon, plus a lesser fine for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
NASCAR officials fined Harvick $15,000 for confronting Greg Biffle after Saturday's Busch Series race. They fined Gordon $10,000 and Earnhardt $5,000 for banging fenders after Sunday's Winston Cup race. Both Harvick and Gordon are on probation until Aug. 28 and would receive stiffer penalties for making more trouble in the next five months.
Although Harvick's fine was higher, Fox TV analyst Darrell Waltrip said Gordon's infraction was more troubling. Gordon spun Earnhardt's car out on pit road, where it could accidentally have hit crew members. "It's certainly more dangerous," Waltrip said. "Nobody's expecting it, nobody's looking for it."
Waltrip called on NASCAR to reign in its young, aggressive drivers. "They've got to send a little stronger statement than a fine," he said.
Like hockey, NASCAR faces the challenge of controlling its competitors without completely eliminating the rough-and-tumble style that helped make it popular. "You want (drivers) to express themselves," said NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter. "But you want to do it in a professional manner."
Hunter noted that Jack Sprague confronted Jimmy Spencer without crossing the line. "It didn't create a big disturbance, so you let that one go," he said.
Those tires aren't bald -- there's plenty of rubber there. They just don't have the tread patterns that street tires do for channeling rainwater.
On smooth dry pavement, those tread patterns are unnecessary, and in fact reduce the contact area between tire and pavement (and therefore traction).
The tires used on those race cars are ideal for the conditions.
Now, if they ever get rid of rain delays and just keep racing, then a different tread would be needed.
Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon had a little post-race sheetmetal nuzzle on pit road last year, IIRC.
But everything you said thereafter was 100% right on the money, Landru. You know your stuff.
Finally, finally, someone has answered this question that I have been asking for a long time in words that I can understand. Thank you Steve0113.
Ok Steve, if it is smooth and dry outside as I was coming back from Virginia Beach to Hershey last week-end, I don't need any tread pattern? I would have loved to reduce the contact area between tire and pavement (and therefore traction). Gees, maybe I could have got one more mile per gallon.
Honestly, I love NASCAR. I don't understand it yet, after three years of paying attention.
I was at a shop that sells nothing but NASCAR stuff the other day. They have a die-cast car in a glass case (I forget who it is), but it was priced at $16,000......let me retype that for comfirmation, $16,000.00. The owner of the shop told me, "Believe me, I will get that price." Unbelievable!
Remember watching a race at least two or three years ago. Jr. was behind his father at the start.
Yep, rams him from behind at the green. Although, from the rumours, you would think J. Gordon would be more accommodating.
Glad to see Stewart managed to avoid this brouhaha. Makes the races more interesting when his car is competitive, and he's not on notice.
Theoretically, that's what qualifying, and to some extent the sponsors are supposed to do. I don't think it would do the sport much good to get rid of the people that are there just because they love to race, even if they can't win. Shawna Robinson has only been in a few races, and hasn't done well, I agree. But it hasn't been that long ago that Steve Park was a joke. The question wasn't "Will he hit the wall today?", but "Will he get to make a pitstop before he hits the wall today?". Then he got it figured out and started running with the big dogs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.