Qualifying

Zerkfitting

Zerkfitting

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I caught F1 qualifying over the weekend - they race for the pole. I think that’s what NASCAR wanted with their new qualifying format. But in NASCAR there seems to be a gentlemen's agreement to get two laps in and be done; the cars line up just like single lap qualifying. I had hoped the new qualifying process would add some excitement to qualifying but the teams know they only have two qualifying laps so they do the minimum to get the job done.

I’ve caught F1 qualifying a number of times, I’ve seen a car take the pole then retake it after someone takes it away; apparently the F1 performance doesn’t fall off after two laps. They have tire warmers and other support systems in place while they wait to make another run (I don’t know if they can work on the car between runs). Maybe NASCAR should allow the cars to be worked on during qualifying (impounding the cars once they are qualified to prevent actions detrimental to the sport).

The dual 125s is my favorite qualifying procedure but that is special to the 500. I was thinking there could be some other special qualifying procedures for selected races. How about a 4 lap average for the Indy race. The traditional single lap qualifying procedure might be preserved at a short track race. How about a hot lap and pit stop qualifying procedure. I like that NASCAR sets the order from practice times for rainouts.
 
Zerkfitting said:
I caught F1 qualifying over the weekend - they race for the pole. I think that’s what NASCAR wanted with their new qualifying format. But in NASCAR there seems to be a gentlemen's agreement to get two laps in and be done; the cars line up just like single lap qualifying. I had hoped the new qualifying process would add some excitement to qualifying but the teams know they only have two qualifying laps so they do the minimum to get the job done.

I’ve caught F1 qualifying a number of times, I’ve seen a car take the pole then retake it after someone takes it away; apparently the F1 performance doesn’t fall off after two laps. They have tire warmers and other support systems in place while they wait to make another run (I don’t know if they can work on the car between runs). Maybe NASCAR should allow the cars to be worked on during qualifying (impounding the cars once they are qualified to prevent actions detrimental to the sport).

The dual 125s is my favorite qualifying procedure but that is special to the 500. I was thinking there could be some other special qualifying procedures for selected races. How about a 4 lap average for the Indy race. The traditional single lap qualifying procedure might be preserved at a short track race. How about a hot lap and pit stop qualifying procedure. I like that NASCAR sets the order from practice times for rainouts.
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The key to F1 qualifying is that the cars are impounded afterwards. NASCAR needs to force these guys into race set ups by impounding post qualifying, and then send them out. They need to be allowed to change tires as well. At that point, we would have something. Right now, we have what we have always had--just organized differently. They are getting closer allowing the cooling units, but there is still work to be done.
 
Zerkfitting said:
I caught F1 qualifying over the weekend - they race for the pole. I think that’s what NASCAR wanted with their new qualifying format. But in NASCAR there seems to be a gentlemen's agreement to get two laps in and be done; the cars line up just like single lap qualifying.
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It's not because of a gentlemen's agreement that they run so few laps then park it.

All the fast cars are trying to save their tires for the final pole run session so they want as few laps as possible on their tires. It's usually just the fastest cars doing it, as some cars not fast enough for the pole will make 8,10,12 lap runs before the final session.

I agree that seeing the fastest cars turn two laps then park it wasn't what I expected, and I'm a little disappointed in that aspect of the KO qualifying. But overall I like it better than the old way.
 
Winning the pole is far more prestigious in f1 then nascar. It doesn't seem like anyone cares that much in nascar
 
Winning the pole is far more prestigious in f1 then nascar. It doesn't seem like anyone cares that much in nascar
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Probably (in F1 the pole winner often wins the race), the NASCAR drivers get to run a special race at the beginning of the year.
 
Zerkfitting said:
Probably (in F1 the pole winner often wins the race), the NASCAR drivers get to run a special race at the beginning of the year.
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Yep.

I tried watching an F1 race out last season. It was their season finale. I watched the leader take the green and get into turn#1, lap #1 in first position. He led every lap from green to checkered. One of the worst races I saw since Jeff Burton won @ New Hampshire in 2000.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Yep.

I tried watching an F1 race out last season. It was their season finale. I watched the leader take the green and get into turn#1, lap #1 in first position. He led every lap from green to checkered. One of the worst races I saw since Jeff Burton won @ New Hampshire in 2000.
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Yeah F1 is about as exciting as kicking a rock down the road. I liked the cars coming out of the garage during qualifying much better than them having to back up and go out on track.
 
DaBiff1618 said:
Winning the pole is far more prestigious in f1 then nascar. It doesn't seem like anyone cares that much in nascar
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I wonder what the percentage of F1 drivers winning from the pole vs NASCAR. I'm willing to bet it's a HUGE difference.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Yep.

I tried watching an F1 race out last season. It was their season finale. I watched the leader take the green and get into turn#1, lap #1 in first position. He led every lap from green to checkered. One of the worst races I saw since Jeff Burton won @ New Hampshire in 2000.
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Yeah some of the races can be dull, but f1 makes sure the best car that weekend wins, boring or not
 
Revman said:
The key to F1 qualifying is that the cars are impounded afterwards. NASCAR needs to force these guys into race set ups by impounding post qualifying, and then send them out. They need to be allowed to change tires as well.
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I think both of those would be very interesting changes. I doubt the impounding will ever be done outside of restrictor plate tracks though, as NASCAR has seemed to really embrace setting new track records for whatever reason over the last couple of years.
 
DaBiff1618 said:
Yeah some of the races can be dull, but f1 makes sure the best car that weekend wins, boring or not
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All racing series bring something different to the table. They all have aspects that are interesting and aspects that are dull or goofy. Ultimately, I'd still watch the worst race in a given racing series in a given year over 90% of all other sporting events on TV.
 
FLRacingFan said:
All racing series bring something different to the table. They all have aspects that are interesting and aspects that are dull or goofy. Ultimately, I'd still watch the worst race in a given racing series in a given year over 90% of all other sporting events on TV.
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Same here. I'll assume you're a typical male and the remaining 10% represents the woman's oil wrestling league, which I never miss.
 
FLRacingFan said:
All racing series bring something different to the table. They all have aspects that are interesting and aspects that are dull or goofy. Ultimately, I'd still watch the worst race in a given racing series in a given year over 90% of all other sporting events on TV.
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Agreed. The only other sports I'm passionate about are football and the Miami Heat
 
There isn't enough room on the track like there is in F1. In Nascar the cars are in the turns most of the time and there aren't enough straightaways to allow the tires to cool down a bit before the next turn. You will see a more interesting qualifying session when the cars go to a road course. In F1 the cars are allowed to make whatever changes they want during qualifying, and it would probably help if Nascar did that too. Qualifying doesn't mean as much in Nascar, because after the first yellow flag, any lead a driver had just disappears. At least an F1 driver gets to keep his lead unless the safety car comes out. These opinions expressed are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Racing Forums or it's members.
 
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