[kcoruol]

I also had that same question about Jeff Gordon. I've asked around some hardcore NASCAR fans I know but nobody could really give me an answer.

So far in my early NASCAR fan career, I initially pulled for the Lowes car just because I like Lowes, but after watching the Lowes car, I now like the Lowes car driver Jimmie Johnson.

What's with the driver's always blaming the pit crews when they lose. Was it the Fed Ex driver who fired the guy who dropped a lug nut? Home Depot guy complaining about losing because somebody else calculated the fuel wrong. I haven't heard any of the drivers say "I lost because I was speeding through pit row"

Question: Coca Cola 600 Race
How fast was Jeff Gordon going when he went head on into the wall?
How fast was the other driver going when he simultaneously t-boned him?
How far did Jeff Gordon travel air borne?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by kcoruol

I also had that same question about Jeff Gordon. I've asked around some hardcore NASCAR fans I know but nobody could really give me an answer.

So far in my early NASCAR fan career, I initially pulled for the Lowes car just because I like Lowes, but after watching the Lowes car, I now like the Lowes car driver Jimmie Johnson.

What's with the driver's always blaming the pit crews when they lose. Was it the Fed Ex driver who fired the guy who dropped a lug nut? Home Depot guy complaining about losing because somebody else calculated the fuel wrong. I haven't heard any of the drivers say "I lost because I was speeding through pit row"

Question: Coca Cola 600 Race
How fast was Jeff Gordon going when he went head on into the wall?
How fast was the other driver going when he simultaneously t-boned him?
How far did Jeff Gordon travel air borne?

Seldom if ever will you hear Tony Stewart admit to his errors.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by kcoruol

What's with the driver's always blaming the pit crews when they lose. Was it the Fed Ex driver who fired the guy who dropped a lug nut? Home Depot guy complaining about losing because somebody else calculated the fuel wrong. I haven't heard any of the drivers say "I lost because I was speeding through pit row"

In this particular case, I think the driver (Hamlin) was justified in complaining. At least 4 races this year he had the car to beat and screwups in the pits cost him the race.

On the other hand, I've heard several drivers admit they got themselves in a bind because of some mistake they made. Most recently, Bill Elliott on his too slow reaction to miss a wreck at Charlotte, ending his night way too early.

[SteelPhoenyx]

Originally Posted by kcoruol

What's with the driver's always blaming the pit crews when they lose. Was it the Fed Ex driver who fired the guy who dropped a lug nut? Home Depot guy complaining about losing because somebody else calculated the fuel wrong. I haven't heard any of the drivers say "I lost because I was speeding through pit row"

There was an instance where Denny Hamlin (the guy in the FedEx car) lost a race because of his error, and he admitted it. The other screwups were in the pit, and changes were made. Seems he has a better pit crew now.

I've heard Matt Kenseth apologize to his crew when he's screwed up and cost a win... most recent being the All Stars race where he gave himself a $1 million speeding ticket through pit road. I think I've even heard Dale Jr. apologize a time or two. That's just a couple of examples of drivers admitting their mistakes.

There are those in the cars that do 'man up' and admit they're wrong.

[kcoruol]

The pit crew guys are just super human! Not only can they gas the car and change 4 tires in 14 seconds, they do it wearing gloves, a ski suit and helmet in 90+ degree heat. (ski suit probably being some sort of fire safety suit).

I saw the indy pit stops at about 9 seconds.

Advice to Nascar driver's
Be more diplomatic; we have a new crew they're ironing out some problems, technical difficulties with com equip factored in, working on fine tuning some problems with the car, we've had some of the pit crew sustained some minor injury, etc.

Then after everyone's gone home, you have a chat with the crew chief, let him be the hatchet man. Mean while you come off as the golden boy in front of the press.

Let's face it you never heard Joe Montana complain that his offensive line stinks, his receivers can't catch, his line backers are slow, when explaining a game loss. I'm sure he had more than one to one with his offensive coach though.

[LSC9901]

Dale Jr has become much more diplomatic this year about what has caused the losses. Last year he openly blamed his crew, people in the shop and so on. Now he praises their efforts no matter what happens on the track ... as it should be.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by kcoruol

The pit crew guys are just super human! Not only can they gas the car and change 4 tires in 14 seconds, they do it wearing gloves, a ski suit and helmet in 90+ degree heat. (ski suit probably being some sort of fire safety suit).

I saw the indy pit stops at about 9 seconds.

Advice to Nascar driver's
Be more diplomatic; we have a new crew they're ironing out some problems, technical difficulties with com equip factored in, working on fine tuning some problems with the car, we've had some of the pit crew sustained some minor injury, etc.

Then after everyone's gone home, you have a chat with the crew chief, let him be the hatchet man. Mean while you come off as the golden boy in front of the press.

Let's face it you never heard Joe Montana complain that his offensive line stinks, his receivers can't catch, his line backers are slow, when explaining a game loss. I'm sure he had more than one to one with his offensive coach though.

in most cases the pit crew at the track are highly paid professionals who spend a minimum of 20 hours a week practicing their craft so that on race day they execute flawlessly. for some, they have no other job to interfere with their crewing duties. the nature of the sport is "you produce or you're gone!"

indy pit stops have onboard pneumatic jacks (connect the air and the car is up in the air...), very large fuel hoses coming from an elevated tank (no 100 lb fuel can to manipulate), and one tire changer per tire with only 1 "lug" nut to worry about. I think the NASCAR boys are doing extremely well getting theirs done in 12-13 seconds!

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

in most cases the pit crew at the track are highly paid professionals who spend a minimum of 20 hours a week practicing their craft so that on race day they execute flawlessly. for some, they have no other job to interfere with their crewing duties. the nature of the sport is "you produce or you're gone!"

indy pit stops have onboard pneumatic jacks (connect the air and the car is up in the air...), very large fuel hoses coming from an elevated tank (no 100 lb fuel can to manipulate), and one tire changer per tire with only 1 "lug" nut to worry about. I think the NASCAR boys are doing extremely well getting theirs done in 12-13 seconds!

They are a bit quicker than I am. I get mine done in about 16 .....







minutes ... each !!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

They are a bit quicker than I am. I get mine done in about 16 .....







minutes ... each !!

for a whole pit stop .. that's great!

takes me much longer with my dually...

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

for a whole pit stop .. that's great!

takes me much longer with my dually...

No, no ... each tire. I've got 5 lugs on it ya know.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

No, no ... each tire. I've got 5 lugs on it ya know.

...and you don't have one of those $1000 impacts either, do you?

do you glue new lug nuts to the wheels or just recycle the old ones?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

...and you don't have one of those $1000 impacts either, do you?

do you glue new lug nuts to the wheels or just recycle the old ones?

The old gunboats you'd call arms are insured for that much ... I think.

I should glue them on. They are always rolling under my buggy somewhere. Then I have to start using golf terms ..... those 4 letter words.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

The old gunboats you'd call arms are insured for that much ... I think.

I should glue them on. They are always rolling under my buggy somewhere. Then I have to start using golf terms ..... those 4 letter words.

take some of that loot you save by not going to a race and go to your favorite tool merchant and get one of those 18V portable electric jobs .. I'm an old 4-way man myself, but I've converted .. zip, zip, zip, zip, zip, done...

didn't know I knew anything about golf 'till now .. thought that was navy slang...

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

take some of that loot you save by not going to a race and go to your favorite tool merchant and get one of those 18V portable electric jobs .. I'm an old 4-way man myself, but I've converted .. zip, zip, zip, zip, zip, done...

didn't know I knew anything about golf 'till now .. thought that was navy slang...

Well that is where I first learned them.

Quick story. In boot camp we met with the chaplain (a priest) he explained what we'd be going through and how our vocabulary might become modified. He said when you get home you have to be very careful not to ask Mom to pass the F*****g butter. Honest to goodness. Exact words.

For the amount of times I change or rotate the old 4 way is good enough for this old guy.

[Racer Duck]

LSC, I'm loosing faith in you .. I can't believe a true NASCAR fan would turn down a chance to go purchase a tool!!! Especially a useful one! And when you can make a good case for how it makes tire rotatoion so much easier on you as you get older...it's a slam dunk!!!