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August 07, 2006
Competition Cautions and Quick Indy Notes:
By Keith Ott
First, I hate it when NASCAR influences an event period, and there’s no doubt in my mind the “Competition Caution” does just that. NASCAR artificially inserts an event that never happened due to racing and positions change. I understand the need for safety but the format is terrible and needs to be changed.
1) They’re not mandatory so you don’t actually have to pit. So, how much sense did it make that Gordon couldn’t refuel on lap 9 (pitted for suspension problems) because then he wouldn’t have had to come in and may have gained positions? He didn’t have to come in anyway.
Make them mandatory. No staying out for track position or the lead…MANDATORY
2) Good, now they’re mandatory. Everyone is coming in for the same safety issue. Why is there competition on pit road? No positions should change! NASCAR stopped normal events when they called a caution. But, positions will change because certain teams have better pit crews. It’s not fair to a lower funded team having a good race to be penalized positions because NASCAR changed the event.
Bring them into the pits slow (It’s for safety and why should the pit crews be put at risk), give them time to check their cars and put them on the track in the order they came in. No other work, except fueling should be allowed on the cars.
3) If, you keep needing “Competition Cautions” for the same item, maybe it’s time to rethink the supplier!
Quick Notes:
1) Quickest wit award: Wally for his “Now that’s a burnout” comment for the #48’s fiery exit of pit road.
2) Best commercial: I liked the BK pit crew chicken changer. I hear Dominos might sponsor Stewart just so they can challenge with a pit crew pizza changer. They’ll need a big guy and a lot of pizza!
3) Worst commercial: Ok Allstate we get it and it's getting old. Older women who can’t drive like Kasey Kahne.
4) Lastly, How about them RCR guys. They’re getting my vote for turnaround team of the year.
August 7, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
I didn't watch the race.
Here in MD it was a beautiful week end and I spent both Sat. and Sunday lying around the pool. Got a great tan.
Posted by: Diane Sadler | Aug 7, 2006 10:49:17 AM
I agree about the competition yellows.
I am also wondering about the late race caution for debris that no one seems to have seen. I'm a Dale Jr fan, but I thought that was pretty obvious. Also, why the late caution on the last lap? Maybe Kahn wouldn't have wrecked if they had thrown the caution flag sooner.
Posted by: Diane Mc | Aug 7, 2006 10:54:08 AM
Diane Sadler, LOL,I'm no longer speaking to you J/K
Diane Mc, I'm wondering if NASCAR doesn't have little sliding doors manned by little "Caution Gnomes" in those safer barriers. You know, for those timely cautions. The items must also be on strings because the TV cameras can never seem to find them.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 7, 2006 11:05:26 AM
Since NBC couldn't see full-size wrecked race cars on the final lap its no wonder that they missed showing mere debris.
Posted by: M. B. Voelker | Aug 7, 2006 11:42:43 AM
M.B.V., they had to scoot on quickly to their NFL. There's no time to cater to measley race fans.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 7, 2006 11:51:32 AM
Lose the ties to Talladega Nights already!! The stupid movie takes NASCAR back to the "moonshine mentality". Makes you embarassed to let people know you're a true NASCAR. How do you expect to draw new fans from this terrible presentation of the type of people involved in this sport?
Posted by: Griz | Aug 7, 2006 11:58:07 AM
Griz,
They do seem to have a problem identifying which demographic they want to be associated with the sport. But in the end the green does all their thinking.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 7, 2006 12:10:16 PM
That deal on the last lap was the final straw for me and NBC. Kahne and Raines didn't deserve any attention because one of the annoited ones won the race. They mentioned the debris field he had to drive through when celebrating but couldn't manage to talk one iota about Kahne and if he was OK. Wally mentioned how bad the hit was and that was it.......idiots.
Posted by: Mark | Aug 7, 2006 12:19:25 PM
They showed Kahne out of the car checking out the damage.
There's no point to complaining about the bad coverage anymore. If you're unhappy don't watch. If all the unhappy fans did just that they'd be forced to try something new. Money talks.
Far as competition yellows. Fine as long as all are aware of it.
Posted by: Scott | Aug 7, 2006 12:34:21 PM
But Scott don't you think see what caused the wreck, who got into it, nd if anyone was hurt is a little more important than talking about an upcoming football game and watching Johnson drop the flag in turn 4?
Posted by: Mark | Aug 7, 2006 12:54:58 PM
Hmmmm maybe a "Safety Caution" is a better term and they could use crossed yellow and red flags. It's mandatory and resumes with no changes in position.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 7, 2006 12:55:59 PM
Also feel free to talk about other annoying rules. I wasn't too happy with the "Lucky Dog" either. Jeff Gordon proved he couldn't race for a lap back so they gave him 3.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 7, 2006 1:02:12 PM
There should be no lucky dog on a NASCAR planned caution. Strategy wise, Biffle should have intensionally gone down a lap to keep Gordon 4 laps down.
Posted by: F4Gary | Aug 7, 2006 1:37:53 PM
That BK commercial had me cracking up. One of the better ones I've seen.
The lucky dog is what it is. If your driver benefited you wouldn't be whining. Purposely going a lap down is a b!tch move and it shows how you think F4, like a
b!tch.
Posted by: yup | Aug 7, 2006 1:47:30 PM
First of all, Biffle is not my driver. Not even close. It's purely a strategy to move into the top ten. Now, turn off your mom's computer and get back to your chores little boy.
Posted by: F4Gary | Aug 7, 2006 1:53:13 PM
yup,
Of course they will eventually play it to death ala Kahnes, but for now it's still fun.
I don't like the idea of going a lap down to keep someone else down any more than the "Lucky Dog." But, fighting for a lap back, instead of riding in the rear waiting on a gimmee has merit. "Screw the Pooch!" Let's race for positions like men.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 7, 2006 2:04:51 PM
Yes "screw the pooch!" I hate the lucky dog.
Lets go racin!
Boogity, boogity, Boogity!
;-)
Posted by: Diane Sadler | Aug 7, 2006 2:50:47 PM
You must remember that the lucky dog was invented for DJ in case he spins out in front of oncoming traffic. Now they get to use it for all their pretty boys. By the way, I agree that when Nascar calls a caution for SAFETY REASONS (ie: shitty tires), all cars entre and exit the pits to the same order prior to caution. Also if the caution was called for "TIRES" then only tire changes allowed--no gas.
Posted by: 328 | Aug 7, 2006 3:17:17 PM
AND. If Goodyear says the tires are OK then why don't they drag tires prior to the race like they use to do in the old days for wet track. This would take away the GREEN TRACK.
Posted by: 328 | Aug 7, 2006 3:19:25 PM
328,
Dragging tires...wasn't that the Texas Tire Monster? I think Humpy used that at Charlotte. Sounds good to me. Especially since last weekend it rained and the Busch guys were at a different track. I'd give them gas because the caution and slow restart laps might throw off fuel calculations, but I'm amenable to a "nothing but the cause" fix. I'd be more amenable to GYr actually bringing a tire that works!
Posted by: Keith | Aug 7, 2006 3:44:35 PM
I am really getting sick of the Allstate commercials followed closely by the previews for Talladega Nights.
I have been very impressed with RCR this year. I keep hoping that Jeff Burton gets a win and Clint has been decent as well. It will be nice if both Burton and Harvick can make the chase.
If they are going to throw a competition caution, then I agree that you should leave the pits in the same position that you entered them.
Posted by: Michelle | Aug 7, 2006 3:46:33 PM
Diane, Is that you...I can barely make you out. Are you done swimming in luxury? LOL, is the second "boogity" lower case because DW choked on his big ass tongue? Heaven knows he trips on it all the time. One could only hope!
Posted by: Keith | Aug 7, 2006 3:47:09 PM
Michelle,
Now, if Kasey Kahne could manage to get the love struck older woman to back into something that fell on Ricky Booby (I like that name better)in mid-sentence I'd have a whole different attitude about the movie.
I wanted Burton to get that win. I think it justifies him being in the Chase. I don't want to see a non-winner take the CUP home.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 7, 2006 3:57:16 PM
Thinking about it, Why do we even have a "Safety Caution" for tires? Didn't we just have practice days under race conditions? Teams should already know their tire wear patterns and if they need to change something. If they choose not to run a full tire test in practice, then why should NASCAR bail them out with a free look? Tires blowout in regular racing and all 43 won't blowout at the same time (although last year at Charlotte we may have wondered if that wasn't possible). Let'em race.
Ok rethinking the rethinking...On a new track surface a "Safety Caution" might be applicable.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 7, 2006 4:08:53 PM
Hey Keith,
Yes, I agree the stop should be mandatory. No positions changed, no lucky dog.
Of similar context, I don't think it is right that cars serving penalties should be allowed to get tires or fuel.
It is sad, but I think that was the best coverage we had so far this year. Gotta be a way to determine the finishing order before signing off.
Posted by: Larry | Aug 7, 2006 4:26:07 PM
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