22 replies to this topic

[Wuzak]

What adjustments to the car setup can a NASCAR driver do from within the cabin to help fine tune the handling of the car?

I know there are several adjustments that pit crews can do, such as track bar, tyre pressures etc.

Do NASCARS have anti roll bars that can be driver adjusted? Brake bias?

[Ross Stonefeld]

There's a radio button that they can use to request changes during the pitstops...

Other than that, nothing? I think there's a brake bias knob but other than that all the switches are ignition boxes, brake cooling fans (for caution periods) and etc.

[OfficeLinebacker]

I strongly suspect the cooling fans alter aerodynamic balance. They certainly alter the rate at which air pressure rises in a tyre, and maybe even ultimate tyre pressure.

Definitely a brake bias knob.

The sway bars are not adjustable from within the car.

Then there's the lever that opens the trap door in one of the frame rails and lets lead shot out of one of the frame rails and lightens the car by about 100 lbs.

[Magoo]

What Ross and OLB said. Brake bias, cooling fans, and that's about it. The driver can also select between two ignition systems, and in some cases two batteries, but there is no performance difference, simply backups. While a number of adjustments are available to the pit crew, the driver has almost nothing. This is NASCAR's intention and design. They even limit the number and type of gauges that can be installed in the dash. About 20 years ago someone tried to run a fuel flow gauge past them but it was banned. Naturally, data acquisition systems of any kind are right out. (Except for the NASCAR-owned impact recorder.) With EFI being introduced next year, one mfg'er was lobbying for driver-selectable fuel mapping but that ain't gonna happen.

One recent thing that sorta surprised me... drivers can now select among multiple channels on their radios to talk to their driver-teammates and even drivers on other teams -- this, mainly to craft strategy in the big drafts at Daytona and Talladega. This strikes me as sorta bogus from a competitive standpoint and I am surprised NASCAR allows it given their POV about these things, but they are allowing it. For now anyway.

[Wuzak]

Thanks guys.

So they are fitted with anti-roll/sway bars?

Why the ban on allowing the drivers to adjust them? Is it because on many tracks, like Bristol or Martinsville, where there is insufficient time to be able to adjust them - as the cars are almost always in a corner?

Or is it that NASCAR don't want the guy who has got to the lead to be able to adjust the car on the fly to maintain his lead?

I noticed the car to car radio thing n the Talladega coverage. I guess they allow it because it allows for better coordination between drafting buddies. The whole drafting buddy thing also seems to me to be anti-competition.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I don't mind it between teammates, but with rival cars is a little weird.

[cheapracer]

The whole drafting buddy thing also seems to me to be anti-competition.

If and when I watch NASCAR it's usually only on the big tracks and only for the amazing stuff that goes on - one moment they are best friends helping each other lap after lap to get back to the front and when they get to the front suddenly they are mortal enemies again and one guy may win while his drafting buddy ends up dead last - brilliant stuff and anything to help that along is a good thing.

[Wuzak]

If and when I watch NASCAR it's usually only on the big tracks and only for the amazing stuff that goes on - one moment they are best friends helping each other lap after lap to get back to the front and when they get to the front suddenly they are mortal enemies again and one guy may win while his drafting buddy ends up dead last - brilliant stuff and anything to help that along is a good thing.

Though at Talladega this year it appeared that the buddies remained together for the length of the race unless one of the cars had some sort of issue or fell off the pace. Kurt Busch had to keep changing partners because he kept punting his mate off....even his own teammate Brad Keselowski who ended up spinning into Ambrose, meaning that Edwards had to fins himself a new buddy too.

[Catalina Park]

I don't mind it between teammates, but with rival cars is a little weird.

I used to use hand signals with other drivers to pass on important information.

[OfficeLinebacker]

Naturally, data acquisition systems of any kind are right out.

When the teams do their own non-Goodyear testing, you should see the wiring harnesses in the engine bay. Since it's not NASCAR-sanctioned, they can have all the gadgets they want.

[Magoo]

When the teams do their own non-Goodyear testing, you should see the wiring harnesses in the engine bay. Since it's not NASCAR-sanctioned, they can have all the gadgets they want.

Oh, to be sure. They even have dedicated test-only cars equipped with every form of DA in existence. One of my favorites is the coast-down car with eighty jillion tiny holes drilled in the sheetmetal with eighty jillion pressure tubes.

But when all is said and done the ban on DA has become kinda dumb, and probably unenforceable. With a box the size of an iphone with one 12v input, you could do an awful lot... and how could NASCAR ever stop that. You could hide it anywhere. Since my mind just sorta runs this way, I think NASCAR should legalize race-weekend DA but only for the one-car teams. It would be a pretty decent equalizer, and the little teams could sell or trade their data to the big teams.

[Tony Matthews]

I used to use hand signals with other drivers to pass on important information.

One finger - I'm using first gear at the hairpin.
Two fingers - Thanks for running wide and letting me pass.
Clenched fist - I think my diff is tightening...
Twirling of index finger at temple - how many more laps are there?
Up-and-down movement of wrist - I'm looking forward to opening the champagne!

[OfficeLinebacker]

One finger - I'm using first gear at the hairpin.
Two fingers - Thanks for running wide and letting me pass.
Clenched fist - I think my diff is tightening...
Twirling of index finger at temple - how many more laps are there?
Up-and-down movement of wrist - I'm looking forward to opening the champagne!

In NASCAR, the recipient of the middle finger salute always uses the euphemism "He was telling me I am #1"

[bigleagueslider]

I don't mind it between teammates, but with rival cars is a little weird.

I would agree with cheapracer, in NASCAR it's all about the show. There are no real adjustments the driver can make on-track during a typical large oval race. On road courses or small ovals, there is brake bias adjustment. Of course, that does not mean that driving a Cup car doesn't require skill. Former F1 champs Montoya and Villenueve have had very little success in NASCAR.

While NASCAR racing may seem backward and technically unsophisticated to many people, the reason millions of fans watch every weekend is mostly for the entertainment aspect. It's like a racing soap-opera with 36 episodes. It's the Sopranos at 180mph. The fans know all of the drivers, and the drivers are the stars, not the cars. There are good guys and bad guys, and the drivers are all marketed as down-to-earth guys the average fan can relate to. There are changing alliances among the teams and drivers each week, and even during a race, like with the drafting . This all adds to the political intrigue and theater that keeps the fans tuning in. Having the viewers able to hear the radio communications between competing drivers, spotters and crews is brilliant. The same is true for NASCAR's complex points system and the "chase". It all adds to the plot.

NASCAR racing may seem somewhat artificial and contrived, but NASCAR definitely knows what their fans want. And they make a pile of money doing it.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I completely agree with that. While I understand the nature of restrictor plate racing means the enemy of my enemy is my friend, active radio calls between drivers/teams seems to get way too close to the invisible line of what is collusion.

[OfficeLinebacker]

Having the viewers able to hear the radio communications between competing drivers, spotters and crews is brilliant.

This is the key. I'm a NASCAR fan and one day I found myself without a computer and internet connection (which is how I listen to the radios, view gaps and lap times, and see a graphical representation of what's going on) and I was like, "Wow, this is really boring."

There was also at least one time when I had a computer and internet, but no TV broadcast, and I got probably 80% of the enjoyment out of the race that I normally do.

I don't know how people do it without the extras.

[Lee Nicolle]

I would agree with cheapracer, in NASCAR it's all about the show. There are no real adjustments the driver can make on-track during a typical large oval race. On road courses or small ovals, there is brake bias adjustment. Of course, that does not mean that driving a Cup car doesn't require skill. Former F1 champs Montoya and Villenueve have had very little success in NASCAR.

While NASCAR racing may seem backward and technically unsophisticated to many people, the reason millions of fans watch every weekend is mostly for the entertainment aspect. It's like a racing soap-opera with 36 episodes. It's the Sopranos at 180mph. The fans know all of the drivers, and the drivers are the stars, not the cars. There are good guys and bad guys, and the drivers are all marketed as down-to-earth guys the average fan can relate to. There are changing alliances among the teams and drivers each week, and even during a race, like with the drafting . This all adds to the political intrigue and theater that keeps the fans tuning in. Having the viewers able to hear the radio communications between competing drivers, spotters and crews is brilliant. The same is true for NASCAR's complex points system and the "chase". It all adds to the plot.

NASCAR racing may seem somewhat artificial and contrived, but NASCAR definitely knows what their fans want. And they make a pile of money doing it.

Nascar is artificial and contrived, but it is obviuosly very much an art to drive those things on the limit, a differnt art to road racing [which most of them suck at]
I watch it at times but so many yellows etc spoil the show. And so many are not needed. And when they go on a road course full course yellows for a spin ruins the show totally. Thats when I leave or at least swear at the TV.

[Greg Locock]

I watch it at times but so many yellows etc spoil the show. And so many are not needed. And when they go on a road course full course yellows for a spin ruins the show totally. Thats when I leave or at least swear at the TV.

Lee, pint of bundy gets you a VB there will be a full course yellow in the last ten laps of Bathhurst. Every bloody year.

[mariner]

Nascar is artificial and contrived, but it is obviuosly very much an art to drive those things on the limit, a differnt art to road racing [which most of them suck at]
I watch it at times but so many yellows etc spoil the show. And so many are not needed. And when they go on a road course full course yellows for a spin ruins the show totally. Thats when I leave or at least swear at the TV.

Some long while ago NASCAR wanted to make a point so they restricted yellow flag use to the bare minimum required for safety. It became a very boring race so point made.

My top racing love is sprint cars which , IMHO, make NASCAR look like a corporate funded wimp show. At a sprintcar race the first impression is that everybody seems to be overtaking everybody all at once which makes it very exciting.

As you watch more you realize that the top driver/car combos are a lot quicker than the pack just like Vettel/RB is quicker than the F1 pack. What keeps the excitement up is the short races, the yellows and the short lap distance. The noise and flying clay helps too of course.

[Lee Nicolle]

Lee, pint of bundy gets you a VB there will be a full course yellow in the last ten laps of Bathhurst. Every bloody year.

100% correct, I think last year it was to rescue a broken down car off the track that had been ther e for 1/2 an hour. Contrived bullshit, just like Nascar.

[Lee Nicolle]

Some long while ago NASCAR wanted to make a point so they restricted yellow flag use to the bare minimum required for safety. It became a very boring race so point made.

My top racing love is sprint cars which , IMHO, make NASCAR look like a corporate funded wimp show. At a sprintcar race the first impression is that everybody seems to be overtaking everybody all at once which makes it very exciting.

As you watch more you realize that the top driver/car combos are a lot quicker than the pack just like Vettel/RB is quicker than the F1 pack. What keeps the excitement up is the short races, the yellows and the short lap distance. The noise and flying clay helps too of course.

I used to love Sprinters, but these days I have seen features raced for 30 laps with about 2 overtakes, or 15 restarts in 30 laps taking over an hour. I have been to 4 shows this season,best racing was Supersedans followed by humble street stocks, midgets [and there was only about 12] 360 Sprints and then 410 Sprints, and that was 2 World Series shows.
I would not travel further than my 2 closest tracks to watch 410s these days.And that if I have nothing else on. I like to watch racing not crashing or processions.

[mariner]

Just to provide a contrast to NASCAR here is David Coulthard in the Red Bull simulator battling the stering wheel knobs

http://news.bbc.co.u...one/9498084.stm

[cheapracer]

Lee, pint of bundy gets you a VB there will be a full course yellow in the last ten laps of Bathhurst. Every bloody year.

You guys still watch it? I gave up years ago when the Superkarts became the same as F1, too much grip and no passing. Not entirely their fault though, the Caltex Chase didn't help things.

This is now the first year I can say I have missed every F1 race so far and I'm not crying about it.

Edited by cheapracer, 28 May 2011 - 14:15.