Question:
I don't remember any race recently where so many cars ran out of gas. I wonder why so many mis-calculated their fuel consumption? Some mis-caluclated by a big margin of 20 laps, if I'm not mistaken. Was a different fuel used this weekend? Or was strategy the big player, maybe due to runnung green for the first 1/3 or so of the race?
Even so, teams are not prone to missing the window by that large a margin, and so many teams seem to have done it too. Did everybody's calculator have low batteries, or what?
And pit crew guys! WOW! Is that a dangerous job, or what? Can anything be done to prevent that in the future? The last few races have really taken their toll on pit crew guys. On the track, and sadly, off the track, too. Especially off track. That still chokes me up when I think about it. To be given a new chance at life, only to have an alleged drunk driver end that chance, is -- well, I can't find the word(s).
The point of racing back to the start/finish under caution was graphically illustrated this race when Dale Jarrett #88, bounced off the outside wall and was dead in the water in a bad place on the track. Bill Elliott #9, checked up big time causing a stack-up of drivers behind him. THAT could have been disastrous. Dale Jarrett had already started to un-buckle and had the steering wheel off. I question his wisdom doing that, he might be doing the same line of questioning himself.
Michael Waltrip had good points in the post race interview about pit road passing. And he has been adamant about his dislike for racing back to the line under yellow conditions. His opinion was proven this weekend.
Who was that guy that came in second? Is that the same guy with the "senior citizen" pit crew? I was only half joking when I predicted the Wood brothers would put a good car under Ricky for his heat of passion comment last week. Maybe Ricky's comment worked to their advantage. For sure a second place finish this week, added to Ricky's third place finish last week, will cause the excitement level to rise in that crew. Way to go Wood brothers! Way to go Ricky! Keep running this way Ricky and I'll be eating crow. I've eaten crow before, so I know how to cook it just right. Tastes a lot like burnt rubber, but goes well with Jolt Cola.
To end it all, that Johnson kid had enough fuel for a smoky burn out -- again. When was the last time we saw a burn out? That's right. Time for something original for a change -- IMO.

Answer:

On the racing back to the caution thing, I decided that it might be better for NASCAR to make it a rule to "freeze the field" right when the caution is called.
I think it's safe to say that the "Gentleman's Agreement" is pretty much almost a thing of the past on that issue, especially as drivers are becoming younger and more agressive every year. The reason for suggesting that kind of a rule is obvious, and we certainly don't need someone getting hurt or even worse.
I thought it was specfically stated in the last meeting that the race leader is the one who decides who gets to have their lap back and who doesn't, etc. If I'm not mistaken, Ryan Newman was trying and pushing his luck, then backed off just while passing Jarret. Who can refresh me on that?
I've gotta thank NASCAR for making pit crew members wear helmets.
It would be nice if I had a VCR so I could record the races. I'm going to buy one soon..
Erik.
"The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn."
-Alvin Toffler

Answer:

I would be willing to bet that no one figured the race would go as far as it did without a caution since it has never happened before! However, Ricky Craven running out in less than 80 laps, I don't think anyone figured on that. They had to have made a mistake somewhere, possibly not having the car fueled properly at the start of the race. You can figure on some disparity between the cars as to fuel milage, but a difference of over 30 laps between Cravens car and Dale Jr's?
As to the end of the race deals, I don't think it was as much miscvalculations as it was gambling, with the exception of Jeff Gordon. His crew simply failed to get the gas in the car when he last stopped. It was a 2 1/2 second stop so he should have gotten plenty to run the few laps that were left. And yes Eric, I also liked it when Kenny Schader pushed Gordon back to the pits. That was a class move! Of course Kenny had nothing to lose at that point, but he owes Gordon no favors either. I applaude him!
M Waltrip has for some time been complaining to NASCAR, and anyone else who will listen, about the way the drivers act on pit row. All you have to do is make a rule about allowing drivers to pull through someone elses pit box when heading to your own. Gordon should have been paying more attention to what he was doing and admitted as much after the race. He said he did not know that was Waltrip's box so he cut down inside of Waltrip who could not have seen Gordon coming as he pulled into his box. There has been an inordinate number of crew member getting injured this year hasn't there!
Please do not get me going on drunk drivers! I will never get off the subject! But then I guess that has a tendancy to happen when you lose someone to a drunk!
Yes, Waltrip's position about the idea of racing back to the line was very clear, though that did not stop him from participating and receiving a warning along with Ryan Newman! In all fairness, he either raced to the line or lost position, despite what NASCAR has said about this. Bill Elliot as the leader is supposed to determine the race to the line and who gets their lap back. As he had made an agreement with Bobby Labonte's team to allow Bobby a lap back on the next caution, he slowed to keep up his end of the bargain. Newman and Waltrip should have slowed behind Elliot instead of racing. If this had happened, Waltrip would not have pulled in front of Mears and Mears would not have gotten into My and almost hit Jarrett, who was stuck and could not move. The remark from one driver about Jarrett not moving off the track was just stupid! (Wish I knew who said it.)
«"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers."»

Answer:

Ramman, I read your comment, "Bill Elliott as the race leader is supposed to determine the race to the line and who gets their lap back. As he had made an agreement with Bobby Labonte's team to allow Bobby a lap back on the next caution, he slowed to keep up his end of the bargain."
Under current rules that is acceptable and can even be commendable. However, I doubt ALL the other drivers were aware of Bill Elliott's "agreement" with Bobby and his crew. Because of that, other drivers were probably NOT expecting Bill to slow down so much, so quickly, or WHERE Bill chose to decelerate. Coming out of turn 4 doesn't seem to me to be a wise choice on Bill's part, and I believe that caught some of the other drivers by surprise. We all have seen the aftermath of a car/driver "checking up" unexpectedly in front of other drivers. The cars behind "stack up" and there is likely to be a few nose to rear end bumps -- or outright crashes as a result.
Bill, as the leader of the race, can make all the agreements he wants to and live up to them all. But, Bill -- as leader of the race -- ALSO has to consider the safety and well being of all the drivers behind him that will be affected by any agreements he may make. IMO, Bill wasn't using his best judgement when he slowed down the way he did, where he did. Bill set the potential for disaster in motion when he did what he did. He's been racing long enough to realize that, and what the result could be. I'm not sure it's a good idea to allow a driver that's leading the race to make decisions like that, or have that kind of control over the complexion of the race. This was a close one -- the next time might not be so lucky.
My Waltrip has voiced his disapproval of racing back to the line under yellow and said he believes NASCAR should address the practice with new ruling(s). He also stated that sometimes a driver has to protect his position -- even though that driver would rather NOT do that. I see his points.
A driver either lets another driver take advantage of him, knowing they can "get away with it", or protect his position and the valuable points (and earnings) that go with keeping ahead of the competition. NOT a good position to put a driver in. I don't understand why NASCAR won't address the problem.
The finest act of class I've seen in a long time is when Ken Schrader pushed Jeff Gordon until the white flag flew. Ken is that kind of guy and it doesn't surprise me he would do that. A true sport, in the sport.
The mishap ratio on pit road seems to have escalated lately. Are drivers asleep at the wheel, or is pit road becoming too busy and confusing when a lot of cars are coming in to pit at the same time? Are pit stalls too small and close together? Pit road speed limits were created to protect the crews, and that DID seem to work, but what else can be done to prevent mishaps like we've been seeing? No passing on pit road might be a start. Perhaps if drivers who are pitted nearer the front would be instructed to remain to the far right upon entering pit road and remain there until they are close to their stalls would help. Or, crews instructed to remain behind the wall until the car has come to a complete stop, which would keep them safer -- but also increase pit times in the process. If all teams did that, all teams would be equally affected, so it should balance out -- I think.

Answer:

The comment I made concerning the actions of the leader is NASCAR rules. As he slowed down, the other drivers should have slowed as well, but of course they would have to realize this is happening! While Elliot dod slow a bit early, the others should have taken appropriate action when they realized what was going on instead of gassing on it to the line. This would have alleviated much of the problems we witnessed.
I think Eric is right on when he said the lineup should be frozen. While it will remove a certain amount of excitement from the race, this is not the sort of excitement we really need. It could have been disasterous for Dale Jarrett.
«"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers."»

Answer:

I'll sign the "I agree" list! Erik's suggestion that NASCAR "freeze" the line-up immediately when the yellow flag is displayed is a good one. If preventing potential big crashes is removing a certain amount of excitement, I'd rather be bored. Although it isn't very likely I'll be bored. You're right on with your suggestion, Erik.
As much as I like ol' million dollar Bill, I still think some of the fiasco caused by his sudden slowing to allow B. LaB. to get a lap back caused the drivers behind him to scatter to avoid what they had no way of expecting. Even though Bill was within the NASCAR rules, his actions were questionable. Drivers negotiating turn 4 are not always looking AROUND the turn to notice what's going on up there. When they do realize drivers are climbing on the binders -- hard, their reactions tend to be to check up. The domino effect is likely to occur when that happens. Drivers are wise, I think, to continue at speed to help alleiate that situation behind them. I think that's what some of the drivers closest to Bill did, scattering in the process. When they were clear and saw an opportunity to advance their position, well, you know racers, right? Some "went for it" and some defended their position. That's to be expected, and I think Bill should have realized that and altered his decision accordingly. By those drivers NOT slowing down to line up behind the leader, I think, prevented the check up domino effect and saved a lot of noses and rear clips. Bill set the stage for a potential disaster. Quickly slowing is no different than missing a shift on a restart, nobody expects that to happen. Had Bill NOT slowed so quickly, I doubt we would have seen what we saw happen.
But, rules is rules. And Bill WAS within the rules. Come to think of it, so was Jeff Gordon when he planed to drive through an empty pit stall. However, we saw what that "within the rules" action caused. Legal ain't alway the best or proper way. IMO

Answer:

Thanks, Bubba and Ramman for that! I'm a bit of an "excitement" person, but I'm willing to "remain seated" to see some added safety.
Erik.
"The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn."
-Alvin Toffler
Last edited by Erik R. on Tue Sep 16, 2003 3:57 pm; edited 1 time in total