Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Embarrassing Blowout for NASCAR
Washington Post ^ | October 17, 2005 | By Liz Clarke

Posted on 10/17/2005 5:40:57 AM PDT by Nasty McPhilthy

NASCAR had the opportunity to build on its fan base Saturday night when the UAW-GM 500 roared to life seconds after Southern California's 34-31, come-from-behind victory over Notre Dame.

NBC viewers who were curious about stock-car racing simply needed to stay put following college football's thriller in South Bend, Ind., where the Trojans charged past the Fighting Irish with three seconds remaining. But as the prime-time TV cameras cut to Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., NASCAR failed to seize the moment.

A rash of tire failures sent a succession of cars slamming into the track's concrete retaining wall and scared drivers so witless they barely raced at all. Instead of dicing for position as NASCAR's best do so expertly, racers kept safe distances between one another and didn't push their cars to their limit, many said afterward, for fear of blowing a tire. Despite the precautions, the 500-mile race was halted for a crash roughly every 20 laps. Nearly all of the crashes were caused by blown tires; not necessarily the fault of the tire supplier, Goodyear, most drivers argued, but the result of speeds generating more heat and abuse than the tires could withstand.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: france; nascar
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-97 last
To: GallopingGhost
That wasn't the Indy 500. That was F1's Indianapolis Grand Prix.

Oops! My bad.

Mark

81 posted on 10/17/2005 10:13:53 AM PDT by MarkL (I didn't get to where I am today by worrying about what I'd feel like tomorrow!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Nasty McPhilthy

They should look at reducing the weight of the vehicles from about 3,400 pounds to perhaps 3,200 pounds. That would remove some of the weight and they should also consider reducing the cubic inch displacement from about 358 cubic inches to perhaps 305 cubic inch displacement. And they ought to just shut down Daytona and Taladega and reconfigure them into a flat track, much the way that Pocono is which is just as long but much lower speeds. I can't recall that race ever being afflicted with blowouts. Restrictor plate racing should just go away.

I've been to Charlotte and don't recall anything at all like this. It was rough but not dangerous. Looks like it is much worse after whatever they did to the track.


82 posted on 10/17/2005 10:14:21 AM PDT by RichardW
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: harpu

If it weren't for the races being accessible on TV, I probably wouldn't be a Nascar fan. I live in North Dakota, a day's drive from any Cup track, and the track that I am closest to hosts only one Cup race a year (and it's one of those cookie-cutter 1.5 mi. ovals that I don't care much for anyway). Nascar could and did exist without TV, but TV's been pretty important to growing the fan base beyond the South.


83 posted on 10/17/2005 10:21:43 AM PDT by patricktschetter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Ben Hecks
I'm not sure what the problem is but races should be won by the fastest car/driver and not by the luck of the tire draw.

The teams asked Goodyear for softer tires and they got 'em. Stoopid is as stoopid does!

84 posted on 10/17/2005 10:23:15 AM PDT by houeto (Mr. President, close our borders now!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Quilla

Now that's a great evenings entertainment!!!


85 posted on 10/17/2005 1:05:06 PM PDT by RightCanuck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: patricktschetter
Like all sports, there are different levels of fans. If you need TV to just be a fan...you're probably not really a "NASCAR fan" (Dictionary.com says; "fan = An ardent devotee; an enthusiast" [Short for fanatic.])

So, 'patrickschetter', has TV really made you a NASCAR fan, or just a happy viewer of a really fantastic sport?

86 posted on 10/17/2005 2:48:11 PM PDT by harpu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: Nasty McPhilthy
manufacturer's recommended tire pressures are posted on the inside drivers door frame near the door latch. Jeez!

But the doors don't open, ya can't see it. ;)

87 posted on 10/17/2005 6:03:09 PM PDT by SouthTexas (Just say NO to New Orleans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: RedBloodedAmerican
"But it's going to be tricky, going to be tough. There are a lot of new variables. The tires are going to give up, the cars are going to be very aero-sensitive. It's going to be difficult, I feel." Knaus said the alterations to the Goodyear tire compound -- namely on the left side tires - were made to offset the aerodynamic changes to the spoiler. The resulting overall aerodynamic changes to the cars could result in less passing at the front of the field. Nascar

It wasn't Goodyear.

88 posted on 10/17/2005 6:13:29 PM PDT by SouthTexas (Just say NO to New Orleans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: SouthTexas

Well, sometimes they put it in the glovebox.


89 posted on 10/17/2005 9:27:40 PM PDT by Nasty McPhilthy (Those who beat their swords into plow shears….will plow for those who don’t.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: Nasty McPhilthy

Ain't got one of those either, that's why they pile all the electronics on the dash. ;)


90 posted on 10/17/2005 11:43:07 PM PDT by SouthTexas (Just say NO to New Orleans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

To: SouthTexas

Some sneaky drivers turn on their high-beams when they are behind another car. They should put a stop to that.


91 posted on 10/17/2005 11:54:39 PM PDT by AGreatPer ( Where I live Roe V Wade is a decision on how you have to cross the Susquehanna River)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: Nasty McPhilthy

I actually heard a NASCAR race on the radio last week.
It sounded like a fly was buzzing in circles around my head.


92 posted on 10/18/2005 12:00:31 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nasty McPhilthy
I saw the IMAX film "Nascar" month before last and it was INCREDIBLE!

My ears are still ringing from the LOUD volume. Wasn't particularly a NASCAR fan at the time, but now I am.

93 posted on 10/18/2005 12:07:16 AM PDT by Windsong (FighterPilot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AGreatPer
That's an easy fix, just tape over the lights. :)

For those who don't know, the headlights are only stickers, no glass allowed on the track.

94 posted on 10/18/2005 12:21:09 AM PDT by SouthTexas (Just say NO to New Orleans.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: deport; Ladysmith

Thanks, deport, I guess they didn't want to call it the NASCAR Zamboni instead of the Texas Tire Monster? Didn't know anything like that existed.


95 posted on 10/18/2005 12:54:56 AM PDT by leadpenny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Ben Hecks
***Tire failures have influenced the outcome of several races recently.***

That's what I thought, though I still may be crazy :-).

I specifically remember at the beginning of the season when NASCAR was on FOX and 'DW' would ask rhetorically - "what's more important in this race, gas or tires".

96 posted on 10/18/2005 5:03:08 AM PDT by Condor51 (Leftists are moral and intellectual parasites - Standing Wolf)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Lurking in Kansas
NASCAR hasn't been NASCAR since they went to driving caricatures instead of "stock" cars.

Maybe he is talking about these cars. ;-)




97 posted on 10/18/2005 5:34:14 AM PDT by PA Engineer (Liberate America from the occupation media.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-97 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson