18th-Dec-21, 04:15 PM
NASCAR is by no means perfect but, leaving aside the fact that you don't want F1 cars racing on banked ovals and some of the following suggestions are not entirely serious I can't help thinking there are a few things F1 could usefully take from NASCAR. Indy car procedures are similar so it can be done with single seaters as well.
Track Limits: An outer concrete wall concentrates the mind.
Otherwise their rule with the lower white lines is a good one. You can't take advantage by deliberately going beyond them but, if another driver forces you past them then anything goes and you can overtake on the grass if you wish. If you go straight on at a road course chicane you must come to a full stop before rejoining the track. Penalty for not doing this is a drive through.
Pace car/full yellow procedure: pit lane closed until all cars safely behind pace car then all cars on lead lap can enter if they wish at same time with lapped cars to follow next time round. Damaged cars may enter for repair while it is closed but they go to the rear on restart. No free pit stops, all down to pit lane execution. No such thing as unsafe release but double width pit lanes so cars can avoid each other.
No magic pit lane speed limit button, if you can't manage your own speed then you pay the penalty. To the rear if under yellows, drive through if green.
Lapped cars: the first lapped car gets the lucky dog at a caution and can unlap himself. The rest stay where they are and drop to the back of the pack out of the way. Saves a lot of time waiting for them all to go round and catch up. A car about to be lapped in the race is not obliged to give way and will fight hard to stay on the lead lap although they will not get in the way towards the end of the race.
No marshals on track unless pace car is in full control and incident scene protected by course vehicles. Safest for all.
No silly tyre compounds: same tyre for everybody with an upper limit on quantity. Free to change two tyres or four at pit stops according to desired strategy.
No meaningless time penalties. To the rear, drive through or black flag are the only ones available during the race. Any infringements after the race such as loose lug nuts result in a hefty fine.
Restarts: two by two with a very limited restart zone. No backing the opposition up then clearing off into the distance three corners before the start line.
No team orders: all drivers get the same equipment and opportunity to win. Team mates will work together for mutual benefit during the main part of the race but when it is time to go for the flag they are free to race with no holds barred.
No manufacturer/team championship just a driver one, eliminates inter team bitching over rules interpretation.
NASCAR's decision is final, no arguing the toss or any penalty is increased. Crew chiefs must do what they are told by race control without dissent.
Car specification is totally geared to close racing and rigidly enforced. Bend the rules a bit in pre race technical inspection and you start at the rear. Plenty of aero involved but no huge rear wings so they can follow 6 inches behind or beside another car at 200mph plus without problem. Overtaking is never easy in any form of motorsport but NASCARs can do it multiple times in a race.
Full yellows a few laps from end (like Abu Dhabi) and overtime (green/white/chequered) is used as many times as necessary. Two lap dash to the flag and everybody has the opportunity to change tyres. If the lead driver passes the white flag without incident then the next flag ends the race even if half the field is in the wall. If the yellows are thrown before the white flag then they do the whole thing over again. Now that would have been something to behold in Saudi Arabia!
Fan involvement: Before the race the drivers are not mostly entertaining sponsors and celebrities but outside the track, up on stage answering fans' questions and signing autographs.
No podium: Victory lane is for the only one who matters. "If you ain't first you're last!"
Driver altercations: nothing that can't be solved by putting your opponent into the wall at the next race or a good old fashioned punch up in the pit lane.
Track Limits: An outer concrete wall concentrates the mind.
Otherwise their rule with the lower white lines is a good one. You can't take advantage by deliberately going beyond them but, if another driver forces you past them then anything goes and you can overtake on the grass if you wish. If you go straight on at a road course chicane you must come to a full stop before rejoining the track. Penalty for not doing this is a drive through.Pace car/full yellow procedure: pit lane closed until all cars safely behind pace car then all cars on lead lap can enter if they wish at same time with lapped cars to follow next time round. Damaged cars may enter for repair while it is closed but they go to the rear on restart. No free pit stops, all down to pit lane execution. No such thing as unsafe release but double width pit lanes so cars can avoid each other.
No magic pit lane speed limit button, if you can't manage your own speed then you pay the penalty. To the rear if under yellows, drive through if green.
Lapped cars: the first lapped car gets the lucky dog at a caution and can unlap himself. The rest stay where they are and drop to the back of the pack out of the way. Saves a lot of time waiting for them all to go round and catch up. A car about to be lapped in the race is not obliged to give way and will fight hard to stay on the lead lap although they will not get in the way towards the end of the race.
No marshals on track unless pace car is in full control and incident scene protected by course vehicles. Safest for all.
No silly tyre compounds: same tyre for everybody with an upper limit on quantity. Free to change two tyres or four at pit stops according to desired strategy.
No meaningless time penalties. To the rear, drive through or black flag are the only ones available during the race. Any infringements after the race such as loose lug nuts result in a hefty fine.
Restarts: two by two with a very limited restart zone. No backing the opposition up then clearing off into the distance three corners before the start line.
No team orders: all drivers get the same equipment and opportunity to win. Team mates will work together for mutual benefit during the main part of the race but when it is time to go for the flag they are free to race with no holds barred.
No manufacturer/team championship just a driver one, eliminates inter team bitching over rules interpretation.
NASCAR's decision is final, no arguing the toss or any penalty is increased. Crew chiefs must do what they are told by race control without dissent.
Car specification is totally geared to close racing and rigidly enforced. Bend the rules a bit in pre race technical inspection and you start at the rear. Plenty of aero involved but no huge rear wings so they can follow 6 inches behind or beside another car at 200mph plus without problem. Overtaking is never easy in any form of motorsport but NASCARs can do it multiple times in a race.
Full yellows a few laps from end (like Abu Dhabi) and overtime (green/white/chequered) is used as many times as necessary. Two lap dash to the flag and everybody has the opportunity to change tyres. If the lead driver passes the white flag without incident then the next flag ends the race even if half the field is in the wall. If the yellows are thrown before the white flag then they do the whole thing over again. Now that would have been something to behold in Saudi Arabia!
Fan involvement: Before the race the drivers are not mostly entertaining sponsors and celebrities but outside the track, up on stage answering fans' questions and signing autographs.
No podium: Victory lane is for the only one who matters. "If you ain't first you're last!"
Driver altercations: nothing that can't be solved by putting your opponent into the wall at the next race or a good old fashioned punch up in the pit lane.
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