NASCAR alters qualifying formats

[Darkanion]

Why not just draw names out of a hat? Qualifying is pretty meaningless, but I think this new format is going to be an even larger separator of the "haves" from the "Have nots" expect to see the same 12 names at the top every week. It used to be the top guys would sometimes bobble a lap and fall back into the pack, now guys like JJ are going to have a whole 1/2 hour to set a fast time, and then they'll get extra practice time "qualifying" for the next session. While JJ is out there learning how his car handles on old tires, David Reutimann will be sitting in his camper wondering what his car will do.

Good point about the top guys getting more "practice time" than the ones at the back of the pack. I'm not sure an extra 15-20 minutes on the track would help a Reutimann "catch up to" a Jimmie Johnson, though..

 

[Dartboy]

Probably not, but it might make the difference between the two guys who did/didn't make round 2.

How are they sorting them to go on track at the start of qualifying? My bet is whoever hits the track first is going to have an advantage at most tracks. Starting 43rd at Martinsville? Tough .

 

[Darkanion]

Probably not, but it might make the difference between the two guys who did/didn't make round 2.

How are they sorting them to go on track at the start of qualifying? My bet is whoever hits the track first is going to have an advantage at most tracks. Starting 43rd at Martinsville? Tough .

I've heard it's supposed to be like how they do it in Formula 1.

 

[Dartboy]

F1 doesn't run on any 1/2 mile ovals, last I checked. Also, I recall a few years back Michael Shumacher experienced some "mechanical difficulties" at the last lap of Monaco qualifying which kept another driver form completing his qualifying lap. Just what we need, more "black helicopters"

My main issue- the SHOW is on Sunday, work to make that better instead of trying to draw an audience for qualifying. Qualifying used to be exiting because if Buddy Baker backed it into the wall coming out of turn 4, he went home. Now it just means you start at the end of the line.

F1 is such a parade, it actually means something to start at the front. NASCAR has monkeyed with so much, a good driver can start form anywhere.

 

[Darkanion]

F1 doesn't run on any 1/2 mile ovals, last I checked. Also, I recall a few years back Michael Shumacher experienced some "mechanical difficulties" at the last lap of Monaco qualifying which kept another driver form completing his qualifying lap. Just what we need, more "black helicopters"

My main issue- the SHOW is on Sunday, work to make that better instead of trying to draw an audience for qualifying. Qualifying used to be exiting because if Buddy Baker backed it into the wall coming out of turn 4, he went home. Now it just means you start at the end of the line.

F1 is such a parade, it actually means something to start at the front. NASCAR has monkeyed with so much, a good driver can start form anywhere.

I don't know (or care) WTF they do on F1. I just heard some people claim what NAPCAR will be doing is similar to that. They're not even using this new format at Daytona, the race that will probably be most watched all season. So, it seems kinda pointless to make this big announcement and then not show it off to the fans right away.

I'm not sure I buy your "the SHOW is on Sunday" argument, though. If that's "all" the fans cared about, you wouldn't have nearly a MONTH of lead-up and all the pre-race race-crap to set the field at Daytona each year.

I actually LIKE that a good car and driver can start from anywhere and still have a shot. The starting grid shouldn't determine how they're going to finish.

 

[Dartboy]

What I'm saying is that F1 tracks are about 3 miles long and there are only 22 teams. Plenty of room for everybody, even then traffic can interfere with a qualifying run. 43+ cars on a 1/2 mile track, it's going to be a traffic jam.

How do they start? Single file on a short track, you'll get a conveyor belt with everyone running the same speed. Double file and the lead cars can jam up the field then stand on it and set a fast lap before they hit the back of the field, then pull into the pits and watch the carnage as everyone else tries to fight for position. Throw in a couple guys in the back who actually ARE fighting to make the field and they're going to be taking chances that could cause wrecks for front runners.

Call me a cynic, but I think there's going to be huge problems with this set up.

The Trucks and Nationwide series will use the new qualifying format at Daytona, so at least we'll get a taste.

It is good that a person can win from anywhere in the pack, but when you add in that 90% of the field isn't going to go home no matter what they do, qualifying loses a lot of meaning. The only reason to qualify well is to get a good pit location.

 

[Darkanion]

What I'm saying is that F1 tracks are about 3 miles long and there are only 22 teams. Plenty of room for everybody, even then traffic can interfere with a qualifying run. 43+ cars on a 1/2 mile track, it's going to be a traffic jam.

How do they start? Single file on a short track, you'll get a conveyor belt with everyone running the same speed. Double file and the lead cars can jam up the field then stand on it and set a fast lap before they hit the back of the field, then pull into the pits and watch the carnage as everyone else tries to fight for position. Throw in a couple guys in the back who actually ARE fighting to make the field and they're going to be taking chances that could cause wrecks for front runners.

Call me a cynic, but I think there's going to be huge problems with this set up.

The Trucks and Nationwide series will use the new qualifying format at Daytona, so at least we'll get a taste.

It is good that a person can win from anywhere in the pack, but when you add in that 90% of the field isn't going to go home no matter what they do, qualifying loses a lot of meaning. The only reason to qualify well is to get a good pit location.

Well, no matter WHAT, you're never going to hit much more than that 90% mark IF THAT. I mean, everyone knows there are only 43 cars going to start the races. So, SIXTY cars aren't going to show up to "try" to get in...

 

[Dartboy]

No, but if you knew Junior was going home if he didn't drive fast enough, it would make his qualifying run more of a nail biter, wouldn't it? Admit it, we all started looking a little closer at Jeff Gordon at the start of last year when it looked like he might drop out of the top 35 and have to earn his way into the race. But without "their guy" in the race, a lot of people wouldn't tune in on Sunday.

This just seems like a money grab to me, attendance is down so they want to suck a few more dollars out of the fans who do show up. Try to get the ratings up on Q day for more ad revenue, etc, etc.

 

[Darkanion]

No, but if you knew Junior was going home if he didn't drive fast enough, it would make his qualifying run more of a nail biter, wouldn't it? Admit it, we all started looking a little closer at Jeff Gordon at the start of last year when it looked like he might drop out of the top 35 and have to earn his way into the race. But without "their guy" in the race, a lot of people wouldn't tune in on Sunday.

This just seems like a money grab to me, attendance is down so they want to suck a few more dollars out of the fans who do show up. Try to get the ratings up on Q day for more ad revenue, etc, etc.

You're daft if you think NASCAR is going to change the rules in such a way that a big name, high profile, heavily sponsored driver (like Jr, JJ, etc.) might not make it into the race on any given week.

And, no, I didn't pay any more attention to JG recently than I have at any other time. Guy doesn't run? I don't pick him! (or at least I try not to)

 

[Dartboy]

No, they're definitely not going to allow something like that to happen, but "back in the day" when qualifying was a big deal, that was part of the draw. Then Richard Petty missed a few races and it's all gone downhill from there