[Racer Duck]

The IRL has implemented a minimum car + driver minimum weight rule. Many are saying it's aimed directly at Danica Patrick. Read the complete article here: To the IRL, size matters - Roy S. Johnson blog - Yahoo! Sports

[LSC9901]

Not sure I can read any fairness into this rule. I understand there are certain things that the governing bodies of racing must keep under their control .... but someones weight ???? What will be next ?? What's that you say ... you're wearing boxers and not briefs !!!!! I can understand the control over the vehicle itself but if I want to hire a 100 LB driver who hasn't won in 47 races versus a 150 LB person with 2 victories .... isn't that my option and if so why would I be penalized for that choice ? Sorry but I don't get this rule.

[Racer Duck]

A long standing practice in many racing organizations is to "equalize" the field by making sure every driver and car combination weighs at least a certain amount. They don't care whether the driver is a 100 lb girl or a 300 lb man. It's the total that counts.

Many times they also specify how much weight is on the front or rear axles as well as on the left side (for oval track racers). Then there's the cross weight rule which specifies how much the combination of the left rear and right front can weigh. And all this is with the driver on board.

Until now the IRL has only spec'd the car's weight. The new rule changes it to include the driver. They don't spec how much the driver can weigh, only that the combination of the driver and car must weight at least X.

If, for instance, Danica and the 300 lb driver changed cars, each car would still have to weigh at least X when they rolled across the scales with the driver aboard. Now, how is that unfair to any driver?

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

A long standing practice in many racing organizations is to "equalize" the field by making sure every driver and car combination weighs at least a certain amount. They don't care whether the driver is a 100 lb girl or a 300 lb man. It's the total that counts.

Many times they also specify how much weight is on the front or rear axles as well as on the left side (for oval track racers). Then there's the cross weight rule which specifies how much the combination of the left rear and right front can weigh. And all this is with the driver on board.

Until now the IRL has only spec'd the car's weight. The new rule changes it to include the driver. They don't spec how much the driver can weigh, only that the combination of the driver and car must weight at least X.

If, for instance, Danica and the 300 lb driver changed cars, each car would still have to weigh at least X when they rolled across the scales with the driver aboard. Now, how is that unfair to any driver?

All very true.

Doesn't NASCAR do this as well??

And the NHRA??

I think the IRL is a bit behind the times in finally doing this.

It can still be helpful to have a lighter driver, since that allows you to place extra weight where you want it, instead if having it sitting behind the wheel! Or so I've heard!

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Phils20

All very true.

Doesn't NASCAR do this as well??

And the NHRA??

I think the IRL is a bit behind the times in finally doing this.

It can still be helpful to have a lighter driver, since that allows you to place extra weight where you want it, instead if having it sitting behind the wheel! Or so I've heard!

Many do this. I know of horse racing, F1 and other FIA sanctioned motorsports, NASCAR, in fact IRL seems to have been an/the exception.