Fuel mileage races - What's the answer?

[dpkimmel2001]

Is there an answer? Does there even need to be an answer?

As long as the tires are outlasting the fuel cell it'll continue to be a big part of NASCAR races. Late cautions are probably the only answer. They could throw that debris caution with 20 or so to go at most tracks. Or..... they could pull a 2008 Brickyard maneuver by throwing a competition caution after every X laps of green flag racing to prevent it. Sure, that will work. I remember when it was pretty much only mentioned when we went to a track like Michigan but now it seems to be a good possibility at each venue.

 

[John Galt]

I think that tires are the answer. They need to fall off if they want to cut the possibility of fuel mileage races.

Is it a problem? In the eyes of some, who actually enjoy watching cars motor around, trying to conserve fuel, no I guess it isn't. Didn't Mobil sponsor a coast-to-coast fuel mileage contest several years ago? Maybe those same folks who are enthralled with fuel mileage are sad that "race" was never televised?

Speaking only for myself, I think that fuel mileage is about as much on-track racing as the "Love Bug" racing we now se at Daytona and Talladega.

 

[Nitro Dude]

I don't think a tire saving race is any better then a fuel saving race. You still can't run all out. I wish I had the answer. But I don't.

 

[SST55]

Maybe FI will increase fuel mileage enough and the problem goes away. Go back to the 22 gallon cell.

Maybe a competition caution calculated to be thrown half a normal fuel run before the checkers so tires and fuel aren't a determining factor in who wins.

 

[FenderBumper]

Teams up front need to play the game better. Prime example was Indy. Kez was in lead and locked into 4 tire stop when Landon did his dance. If Paul had called him down for 4 and fuel under yellow, instead of under green 7 laps later, he wins. It's hard to give up the lead at Indy, but avoiding a 4 tire stop under green should have been an easy choice. Brad would have been first in pits just before green, and would have had plenty of time to do all they wanted before Menard got out. He was faster than Menard, and would have been the first car with tires and gas.

Other than that, a softer tire that leaves more rubber on the track as it wears faster would be nice. I miss the second groove that died with this heavier car and harder tire.

 

[FenderBumper]

Maybe FI will increase fuel mileage enough and the problem goes away. Go back to the 22 gallon cell.

That's another part of the problem. NASCAR went to E15, which gives lower fuel mileage, but never adjusted by increasing the fuel cell.

 

[fastfordfan]

part of racin always has always will what can you do if one engine gets 4 mpg and one gets 5 mpg

 

[Mopardh9]

I think fuel mileage races have always been a part of Cup racing, any racing for that matter. Going to a tire that "falls off" more will risk wearing the tire too quickly, possibly blowing out right fronts. IMO it seems that for once the tires are not a problem, don't mess with them. Like others have said I think going back to the 22 gallon fuel cell would be a good idea. I thought it was rather silly when Nascar decided to go to the smaller one.

 

[VaDirt]

Fuel mileage for 300+ mile races has always been, and will always be part of the sport. I personally can't stand seeing guys toward the end of the race pussyfooting around with a 40 second lead, half coasting.

But it is what it is, and shouldn't be changed.

There is, however, a rule that says you have to be within a certain speed compared to others. If lapped cars are passing the leader like he's parked because he's saving fuel, that rule should be enforced.

 

[kkfan91]

There is nothing wrong with fuel mileage races, its all a part of the strategy that makes it interesting. So many people complain races are boring them but then complain that the edge of your seat is he going to run out or not stuff is too. As usual NASCAR fans contridict themselves to avoid being happy about anything.

 

[HoneyBadger]

I think that tires are the answer. They need to fall off if they want to cut the possibility of fuel mileage races.

I don't know... I've seen a fuel mileage ARCA race (you know, the demolition series) at Rockingham before (a track that eats tires alive).

 

[HoneyBadger]

The answer is more debris cautions.

 

[MRM]

I've been following NASCAR since 1975 and there were plenty of fuel mileage races back then. If you don't like or want fuel mileage races, follow a form of racing that has 100-lap races instead of 400-500-mile races.

 

[chromehorn]

That's another part of the problem. NASCAR went to E15, which gives lower fuel mileage, but never adjusted by increasing the fuel cell.

Excellent point, a bigger fuel cell would help add a couple of laps at least and thats usually about what most guys need at the end.

 

[Bucky Badger]

They don't need to change anything...teams go through a lot to get good fuel mileage or pit strategy . Winning is about strategy and playing the fuel card is part of it.

 

[chromehorn]

I blame ethanol.

Off subject a hair but does it piss anyone else that gas is so high and fuel milage is worse since everything is 10 - 15% ethonal now? Sorry, I get this way everytime I fill up my truck these days.

 

[FenderBumper]

I blame ethanol.

Off subject a hair but does it piss anyone else that gas is so high and fuel milage is worse since everything is 10 - 15% ethonal now? Sorry, I get this way everytime I fill up my truck these days.

Now it costs me an extra $1 to go to the store to buy steak, which also went up because those darn cow's like corn too, which costs more since the government insists on putting it in my gas tank.

What a tangled mess. Corn ethanol is the dumbest thing ever, because you can make it from weeds.

 

[Clutch]

They don't need to change anything...teams go through a lot to get good fuel mileage or pit strategy . Winning is about strategy and playing the fuel card is part of it.

Agree with you Bucky, fuel/pit strategy is part of the equation.

 

[SlowNeasy]

They don't need to change anything...teams go through a lot to get good fuel mileage or pit strategy . Winning is about strategy and playing the fuel card is part of it.

yep, taking fuel mileage into account is just a part of the race. everyone has to do it so the team(s) that do it best win(s).

 

[BobbyFord]

I think Goodyear should bring the 2008 Indy tires to the tracks that frequently end in fuel mileage strategy.

 

[chromehorn]

I don't like it but fuel mileage is a part of it. They could have 60 gallon tanks and there are still some races where it would come down to mileage.

 

[kkfan91]

The only way to avoid fuel mileage races is to Flintstone the cars.

 

[zevious]

The only way to avoid fuel mileage races is to Flintstone the cars.

Fred for the win

 

[Clutch]

Fred for the win

And Barney for 2nd!!

 

[Magnethead]

funny thing is, how often do you hear a road race ending in fuel mileage?

Maybe the CC's are just doing it all wrong.

 

[kkfan91]

funny thing is, how often do you hear a road race ending in fuel mileage?

Maybe the CC's are just doing it all wrong.

Don't they always say on a road course they run the race backwards by pitting so they will make it to the end with fuel.

 

[chromehorn]

funny thing is, how often do you hear a road race ending in fuel mileage?

Maybe the CC's are just doing it all wrong.

You can almost always count on a yellow with 10 or so laps left at a road course.

 

[Tennessee Racing]

Just throw in a caution with 20 laps left in every race. Nascar loves those late "debris" cautions anyway so why not....

 

[FenderBumper]

You can almost always count on a yellow with 10 or so laps left at a road course.

I have the only solution. Don't give them any gas.

 

[Bucky Badger]

Just throw in a caution with 20 laps left in every race. Nascar loves those late "debris" cautions anyway so why not....

What will that do? Some won't come in and it will be the same old thing. They will try to win on old tires and the fuel they have.

 

[Mopardh9]

What will that do? Some won't come in and it will be the same old thing. They will try to win on old tires and the fuel they have.

Yep!

 

[HoneyBadger]

What will that do? Some won't come in and it will be the same old thing. They will try to win on old tires and the fuel they have.

Exactly, you get the lead in CoT and you're gone, old or new tires. I bet thy could run this car at Rockingham and the leader could still get clean air and pull out to a 20 second lead on 80 lap tires.

 

[BobbyFord]

Exactly, you get the lead in CoT and you're gone, old or new tires. I bet thy could run this car at Rockingham and the leader could still get clean air and pull out to a 20 second lead on 80 lap tires.

Not on 2008 Indy tires

 

[#17D500winner]

Yes, fuel mileage is a part of racing and most likely always will be but if not for Jeff Gordon, that race at Indy would have been a bigger snooze fest than Pocono is likely to be.

Look for Nascar to make a change to the fuel cells next year.

 

[robbybee]

Look for Nascar to make a change to the fuel cells next year.

Who knows what impact Fuel Injection will have on fuel mileage? I don't have a problem with teams using fuel or tire strategies to win races. I do think that the "aero tight" issue is one that NASCAR must address. They tried to change it up with the COT but it obviously has not worked.

If NASCAR was to change the front-end suspension design spec and eliminate the bump stops, thereby giving teams the ability to adjust front end spring rates and shock absorber rebound rates, we might see something different. But the "shock packers" make it next-to-impossible to change the front-end response in the cars.