One More Change - Daytona 500

[HOF#13]

Today NASCAR announced that in addition to the changes already imposed after the Bud Shootout (reduction of cooling ducts and a new 33 psi pressure release valve on the radiator), they have also decided to reduce the openings on the restrictor plate by 1/64". They expect that to reduce the engine by 10-12 horsepower.

It'll be interesting to see what they do next if they do not get the desired results in tomorrow's duel races.

For more information you can go to the nascar HSOforum or jayski's.

[Sifty]

It will be intresting to see how these cars are going to act.

I wonder how many we are going to lose to blown engines due to overheating?

Sifty

[harvey lee]

They were talking on Speed today that some engine guro's were concerned about hot engine's. I guess they will need to get into clean air a bit more.

Some drivers still close to 200mph with the changes.

One change that would slow them down would be to change the rear bumper so they could not drive car to car for the entire lap.

[spearchucker]

I say take the plates off and let them go. They have a brake as well as a throttle.

[harvey lee]

Be alot of very bad accidents with no plates. NASCAR would never go that route.

[tonkapat]

I say take the plates off and let them go. They have a brake as well as a throttle.

Totally agree, actually might make so the cars aren't so bunched up. Bad accidents harvey? cause they never happen at daytona with the plates on right. I'm not much of a nascar fan but love to watch this race.

[IL Res]

Maybe its me, but since #3 was killed at Daytona, NASCAR just doesn't do anything for me anymore. I used to get pumped up every Sat or Sun, taped and re-watched all the races. I'm afraid that the sport has lost its way w/ excessive corporate sponsorship, drivers that have no personality, multicar teams, etc. I think they've "mandated" themselves out of popularity w/ motorsporting public.

I have been to the last 2 NHRA Pro events @ B.I.R. and found it more like the way NASCAR "used to be".

[harvey lee]

NASCAR did lose alot when Sr died. No one may ever come along that can do what Sr did for the sport.

They have made the tracks and cars much more safe after Sr's death and about 3 others before Sr.

Something had to be done.

[delzz7]

Im not a diehard nascar fan anymore. Did they not have testing days earlier in the year at Daytona like previous years. I know safety is big, but they should have figured it out earlier. This is nascars biggest race and they are changing rules 4 days before it.

I hope the racing is exciting.

[Billy_Burbout]

They dont let them test very much anymore to keep the cost down. its expensive to test at a track so they keep testing down to make it available to all the teams. They will only be able to stay paired up for a little while with the radiator change. The back car will have to pull out to keep the motor cool. IMO nascar started to change when it used to be the good ol' boys racing back then, to the buisness nascar of today. We knew the racecar drivers made alot of money, but they weren't on mtv's "cribs" like they are now. It just seems like its more of a numbers game now. It still will not make me quit watching though. like it too much!

[gregg52]

very much testing ?/

there is no more testing

the only reason their testing at dayton is the blacktop

[Billy_Burbout]

I ment testing everywhere

[HOF#13]

They were talking on Speed today that some engine guro's were concerned about hot engine's. I guess they will need to get into clean air a bit more.

Some drivers still close to 200mph with the changes.

One change that would slow them down would be to change the rear bumper so they could not drive car to car for the entire lap.

I was looking at the speeds in practice yesterday and some cars still hit 200 mph. I wonder what NASCAR will do if the speeds are consistently around the 200 mph mark today in the duels?

[harvey lee]

Well, after the 2 today, it looks like many will crash out in the 2 car draft. Seems many front cars had bad luck.

I hope NASCAR can make a change and not have the whole race a 2 car draft race.

BORING.

[LMITOUT]

very much testing ?/

there is no more testing

the only reason their testing at dayton is the blacktop

They test at Daytona every year. The new pavement had nothing to do with it.

[LMITOUT]

With any luck NASCAR will black flag Waltrip, Robbie Gordon, and David Ragan on lap #1. That should prevent at least three wrecks right there.

[harvey lee]

There will be plenty of wrecks by well know names.

Lmit, no need to black flag them. They are no worse than anyone else with this 2 car drafting.

[LMITOUT]

Waltrip and R Gordon have already caused wrecks this week and Ragan wrecks practically every time he belts himself into a car, so they are prime suspects when it comes to those who shouldn't be on the race track.....two-car drafting or not.

[harvey lee]

Well, Smoke has wrecked 2 also. Seems to be plenty more to. Gordon also had an issue with some and Ragan got wrecked in that one along with another.

This 2 car stuff will wreck more cars.

[LMITOUT]

After watching the races the last week and some practice sessions I have to wonder if the two-car drafting is going to reduce the possibility of "the big one". So far we've seen many single car spin-outs and just a few multi-car wrecks that really aren't any different than what you'd see at other tracks. If they can get by the first few laps coming to the green they seem to spread out a bit so they can work these two-car drafts instead of a big 3x3x3x3.. pack. Obviously all 43 cars haven't been on the track at the same time so we'll have to wait until Sunday to see if that pans out or not.

[Billy_Burbout]

The only one i would like to see black flaged is D.W in the booth. I know iam going to get heat for that but its the truth! He has lost his mind! He is starting to be like john madden! A great man in his day but come on buddy, get with it.

[harvey lee]

So far Lmit, it does look like the 2 car draft could elimanite the Big One as one does not see the big pack of close cars.

As you said, we will have to wait and see when all the cars are on the track and if NASCAR makes any more changes.

By the way, Happy Birthday.

[Agent Andy]

I found the race extremely boring. They showed the 2 or 3 first two car groups but you never saw much of the rest of the field. This will be my first nascar race I don't care whether I watch ior not. If there was a way nascar could break up the field some way so that the same 2 cars are not together the entire race it may be worth watching. JMO.

[LMITOUT]

With any luck NASCAR will black flag Waltrip, Robbie Gordon, and David Ragan on lap #1. That should prevent at least three wrecks right there.

nuff said.

Waltrip couldn't drive a hot nail into a snowbank, let alone a race car at 200mph.

[jwhjr]

Looks like we had the big wreck anyway. Now if only Harvick didn't blow an engine my fantasy team would still be in good shape.