A Couple Bones to Pick
Although I generally agree with this Tennessean piece there are a couple odd references that could have been stated more clearly, or not at all.
NASCAR’s accident and spin rates during the past four years have remained virtually unchanged despite several rule changes, a new playoff-style points race and the addition of more SAFER barriers.USA TODAY database analysis shows that in 2004 there were 204 incidents on the track, 13 percent fewer than 2003 and roughly equal to the average in the past four years.
Keep in mind the title of this article is “Accidents, spin rates stay steady despite rule changes.” I suppose one could argue the new Chase format could lead to tighter racing and more accidents, but the story refutes that idea. But please, somebody explain to me how on earth did the installation of SAFER barriers have an effect on accidents, discounting the injury factor. Do SAFER barriers operate in the same manner as a magnet and it’s north/south effect? Are race cars “magnetic north” and SAFER barriers “magnetic south,” and act to repel each other? Strange, no?
The story goes on to correctly credit the SAFER barriers for the reduction of injuries and noted 14 tracks installed softer walls, with half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway slated to add them by next season. But then heads off into more illogical nonsense.
Combine SAFER barriers, which cushion collisions with the wall, with Goodyear’s new, softer tire compound and NASCAR shaving an inch off the rear spoiler to provide less downforce, and drivers appeared to have better control of their cars.
Let me state up front, I don’t hold a PHD in aerodynamics, nor have a wind tunnel situated smack in the middle of my back forty. But even this backyard mechanic knows less rear spoiler means less driver control, not the same or more.
But that’s me. I think I’ll head on over to EBay and see if there is a slightly used wind tunnel on auction. Then maybe I can make some reasonable sense of this nonsense.
Here is a link to the original article in the USA Today written by Mary Jo Sylwester. It’s essentially the same, but does include a small chart of the accidents in the last four years.
UPDATE: While on the subject of accidents and spin rates, this years Buckshot Jones Wreck-a-Racer Award has been announced. Why am I not surprised who the winner is. Anyone wanna bet now that he is the owner of his team the accident rate for ‘05 takes a nose dive.
UPDATE II: It’s always nice when you find yourself in agreement with the experts. See what Greg Biffle has to say after his Roush Team tested at Kentucky Speedway:
Marc, you should try to get the USA Today pit reporter job, that writer seems confused, lol. The Safer barriers are great, I’m glad to hear they’re installing them on more tracks. I think they should install them on the straights as well because they work great. The only drawback is they take up about 3 feet of track which is a lot at places like Darlington but they work so well it’s worth the trade off.
There were a lot of spins in this past season that avoided hitting anything and Kurt Bush had a good number of them. I think the pavment that was put down in the infields of several tracks where there use to be grass can be credited with that.
The new spoiler rules for next season are a bad idea. The new softer tires might make up some of the lost grip when they’re new but then nobody will be able to pass. If you get that wind tunnel, I have an idea I’d like to try. Put the rear spoiler back like it was last year and add a 1 inch tall lexan strip across the top of the car roughly at the door post. I think this would dirty the air a little with the goal of getting the cars back to something like the cars were in the mid 70s, when the draft and slingshot made for some great racing. The size and location might need to be experimented with to get the maximum benifit but I think it would help get rid of the aero push that makes passing so difficult. A small lexan strip would barely be noticeable and I think it would be better than trying to solve an aero push by making the cars aero loose.
I tend to believe the woman that wrote the USA Today article was just handed the copy to reproduce from the newswire, and she wasn’t a “real” race fan. As a result she didn’t fully understand what she was writing.
A far as your lexan strip, it may work better by just adding ride height to the entire car, or increasing the frontal area.