[DOF_power]

autosport.com
and is titled "Passing Thoughts: F1 Overtaking Analysis". Written by
Michele Merlino - subscr. required.


The data goes back to 1983.


excludes:
a] any place changes made during pit stops
b] all lapping or unlapping manoeuvres
c] any place changes made during the first lap
d] some passes where lap time analysis 'proves' that a driver had a problem which caused him to lose places

[Racer Duck]

It appears to me the data indicates we're in a mostly follow the leader mode, not as bad as '95, but still nothing like the mid '80's...

Also, there appears to be a 2 yr up then 1-2 yrs down cycle and we're just ending a 2 yr up portion of the cycle. guess that means '08 will be mostly follow the leader...

[DOF_power]

Those are regulation changes from the FIA to cut either mechanical grip, and/or ground effects downforce and/or power. All witch have been bad.

The loss of the ground-effects downforce/clean aero cars was the biggest disaster done by the FIA alongside the re-introduction of refueling.

The mid-80s cars, well more cars (30+ vs. 22 today), less chicanes, more mechanical grip, turbo push-to-pass buttons.

[Racer Duck]

it would seem to me that the goal of any racing organization is to have as much "action" as possible on the track .. that means passing/overtaking!

otherwise it's just "follow the leader" and that's B-O-R-I-N-G!!!

[DOF_power]

Those decissions witch have reduced overtaking have actually been introduced by Mosley to "improve the quality of racing", among other things (like reducing costs, closing the field).
Some of those 80s numbers will not return simply because of there are less cars and closer togheter.

"follow the leader" - ain't boring as long as there's good action behind.
1992 was a follow the leader year (Mansell/Williams-Renault), but there was a lot more overtaking and a battle for no.2 in the championship between Patrese, Schumacher and Senna.

[Bob Tanner]

I'm not sure if this is totally revelant but I just cut this from Jayski:
Top 5 Races in Green Flag Passes for 2007 Sprint Cup
1. 4/29 Talladega - 16,808
2. 10/7 Talladega - 7,979
3. 2/18 Daytona - 7,786
4. 7/7 Daytona - 5,220
5. 9/2 California - 3,753

The stipulations noted on the F1 article are not mentioned here but even with more and longer races, it would appear passing in Cup surpasses passing in F1 by a large majority, per race. These are just the five highest races and not the entire season.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I'm not sure if this is totally revelant but I just cut this from Jayski:
Top 5 Races in Green Flag Passes for 2007 Sprint Cup
1. 4/29 Talladega - 16,808
2. 10/7 Talladega - 7,979
3. 2/18 Daytona - 7,786
4. 7/7 Daytona - 5,220
5. 9/2 California - 3,753

The stipulations noted on the F1 article are not mentioned here but even with more and longer races, it would appear passing in Cup surpasses passing in F1 by a large majority, per race. These are just the five highest races and not the entire season.

uh .. Bob .. I hate to point out that comparing NASCAR Cup (which reminds me, when exactly was the first "Sprint Cup" race run? - my memory just isn't what it used to be...) and F1 races is apples and oranges - especially when comparing statistics like these. Ya see, NASCAR Cup races usually have at least twice as many cars as F1 races .. that means there's at least twice as many opportunities for passing/overtaking. And there's certainly nothing in F1 to compare to restrictor plate racing (the top 4 in your list.)

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

uh .. Bob .. I hate to point out that comparing NASCAR Cup (which reminds me, when exactly was the first "Sprint Cup" race run? - my memory just isn't what it used to be...) and F1 races is apples and oranges - especially when comparing statistics like these. Ya see, NASCAR Cup races usually have at least twice as many cars as F1 races .. that means there's at least twice as many opportunities for passing/overtaking. And there's certainly nothing in F1 to compare to restrictor plate racing (the top 4 in your list.)

Point taken. An "apples and oranges" comparison it is. That being said, even taking into consideration the disparity of the two series', I still find the sheer difference in numbers intriguing.

[DOF_power]

>
^ Well ofcourse there are more cars and the races are longer, witch allow more overtaking. But the nature of the tracks also plays a part, Cup races are almost entirely ran on ovals witch allow slipstreaming, while F1 dumped the banked/oval/combined tracks of the past like the old Monza, Tripoli, AVUS.
The cars have been so messed up by the stupid FIA regulations that hardly any slipstreaming is possible. Equally the tracks have been chicane-ised ... arhh I mean sanitized and the braking distances have decreased.