[simple simon]

As the Chase for the Nextel Cup begins this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway, look for more talk about which tracks drivers would like to see subtracted from or added to the 10-race playoff.

In most cases, a driver's opinion about whether the Chase should include a road course, or whether some other track should be in or out depends on his perspective.

Matt Kenseth, who joins Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson as the only drivers to make the Chase in all three years the format has been used, admits to such a bias.

'I would prefer there be a different short track,' said Kenseth, who goes into the Chase as the leader in the standings.

Drivers show bias when talking track

should the drivers have a say ?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by simple simon

As the Chase for the Nextel Cup begins this weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway, look for more talk about which tracks drivers would like to see subtracted from or added to the 10-race playoff.?

It figures. It's natural for drivers to have tracks they prefer to race on.

OPINION WARNING

I don't know if this is a reprint from some article, or if Simon authored it himself. If it's a published article, it is an example of some of the typical, meaningless, non-news "puff pieces" the hack journalists pump out in reams today. If it came out of Simon's head, then it's an observation done by one of our members, and that's another complete story, fully worthy of our perusal.

For what it's worth (absolutely nothing), IF NASCAR is adamant about keeping road courses (I would prefer to see them done away with and keep stock cars on oval tracks), then I think it would be prudent to drop one of the cookie-cutter tracks (Charlotte, Texas or Kansas) and swap dates with one of the road courses. I think it would be only fair for NASCAR to have a full representation of ALL the track types they race on during the full season, in they playoff schedule; not a full representation minus a road course.

Comments?

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I don't know if this is a reprint from some article, or if Simon authored it himself. If it's a published article, it is an example of some of the typical, meaningless, non-news "puff pieces" the hack journalists pump out in reams today. If it came out of Simon's head, then it's an observation done by one of our members, and that's another complete story, fully worthy of our perusal.


Comments?

i didnt write it myself, as i included the link where i got it from

however, i do appreciate that my thoughts are worth reading.......thank you Bob


i agree with you, the chase needs to be a full representation of tracks

if road courses are in the season they need to be in the chase

[Team Yates]

I have yet to read through this article, but I wanted to post this:

me----> <----GDK
Entirely too funny Simple Simon, has he seen that yet?!? I just about fell out of the chair when I saw that!!!

[simple simon]

he hasnt commented anywhere that i have seen yet

probably trying to come up with a clever come-back

[wardfan]

I like the road courses. I think it's more fun to see them have to turn right and left. I think the only reason they won't have more than the 2 is there is no way to have a course so they could fit more fans (money) in. I guess you can build stands all the way around the course but I'm sure most fans (Money) want to be able to see the whole course. I think they should have a road course in the chase so they have every type of track in the chase.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by wardfan

I like the road courses. I think it's more fun to see them have to turn right and left. I think the only reason they won't have more than the 2 is there is no way to have a course so they could fit more fans (money) in. I guess you can build stands all the way around the course but I'm sure most fans (Money) want to be able to see the whole course. I think they should have a road course in the chase so they have every type of track in the chase.

I'd appreciate the road courses more if the turns were wider. The only course I can think of, off the top of my head, that is wide enough for stock cars is Elkhart Lake. The two road course NASCAR has now have only three or four places on the entire track where a pass can be made. The rest of the track is strictly follow-the-leader.

However, road courses definitely are a test of true driving skill, not just nerve. As long as NASCAR has them in the schedule, like you I believe it is wrong not to have one in the playoff segment of the season.

[simple simon]

i know it has maybe a .001 % chance of happening, but what about a "real" road course ?

like the open wheel series use

Miami.....Detroit.....Toronto....Monnaco

NASCAR on the streets, now that would be cool

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i know it has maybe a .001 % chance of happening, but what about a "real" road course ?

like the open wheel series use

Miami.....Detroit.....Toronto....Monnaco

NASCAR on the streets, now that would be cool

That would be interesting.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i know it has maybe a .001 % chance of happening, but what about a "real" road course ?

like the open wheel series use

Miami.....Detroit.....Toronto....Monnaco

NASCAR on the streets, now that would be cool

IF NASCAR sends the Cup Lite Series, to Montreal, and it looks as though that may happen, that course is very close to being a true street course. I believe that it's the course the F1 Wantabe's, (Champ Car Series, I believe they call the "Other" IRL now) run a race on.

Do they still run in Detroit and Toronto? I thought they quit going to Detroit a while back due to street conditions. I thought I heard the City Fathers nixed the Toronto race, but I'm probably wrong about that. I don't follow the F1 Wantabe Circuit much.

Miami and Monaco? Miami might be doable, with some serious track modifications. But Monaco? It'd be OK from the start of the tunnel to where they past the wharf and start uphill toward the casinos. But the rest of the circuit is far too tight. They have enough problems getting 16-17 of the F1 "Weedwhackers-on-Steroids" around there without total gridlock. I can imagine what 43 full-bodied American cars would do. It'd make I-285 around Atlanta at rush hour look like the wide open spaces!

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Do they still run in Detroit and Toronto? I thought they quit going to Detroit a while back due to street conditions. I thought I heard the City Fathers nixed the Toronto race, but I'm probably wrong about that. I don't follow the F1 Wantabe Circuit much.

i honestly dont know if they still do Bob

just only examples i could think of at the moment

i stopped paying any attention at all to CARTIRL when they split

just think it would be so cool

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i stopped paying any attention at all to CARTIRL when they split

just think it would be so cool

That was when I began watching them again. I really hoped Tony George would do the right thing and dump the rear-engined pieces of crap and make the IRL, including the Indy 500, as great as it once was before Penske, Ganassi and the "God, I wish I was in F1" crowd highjacked open wheeled racing in this country.

I was wishing Tony would take the Silver Crown Series and make it IRL. Front engined Silver Crown Stock Block cars at Indy. Now, THAT would be C-O-O-L!

But, he took the easy way out and now look at IRL. It's basically the same as it was prior to the split except now they run a majority of oval tracks. But the self-serving primadona drivers and team owners remain the same.

Ugh!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i know it has maybe a .001 % chance of happening, but what about a "real" road course ?

like the open wheel series use

Miami.....Detroit.....Toronto....Monnaco

NASCAR on the streets, now that would be cool

I would be most curious about the cost VS profit to all involved to actually do something like that. It seems that the city involved must have some major expenses and inconveniencies that the general public may not be interested in enduring. Anyone have any numbers ??

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by simple simon

NASCAR on the streets, now that would be cool

It may look cool in theory, but in reality I think it would suck. Talk about NO PASSING! Most street courses have maybe two passing opportunities, if that. The races would be won and lost in qualifying and the pits. If they are going to run road courses, they need wide tracks with a lot of passing areas. Single file racing is not racing, IMHO.

[carlab68]

Well I think we all know what track I'd like to see added. AHEM!

I'm not a fan of the road courses. I wish they'd do away with them. I pretty much agree with everything Bob said, so I won't repeat it.