Daytona Wrapup

I could just as easily titled this entry "The Death of Racing", but that would imply that it didn't already die several years ago.

In many ways this was a typical Daytona 500: a 150 lap parade followed by a 50 lap demolition derby. It did provide an exciting finish, but it was a finish that typifies why racing is no longer with us.

Ryan Newman, fellow Purdue alumnus, was doing incredibly well for the majority of the race. He spent most of the time in the top-5, and looked to have a car capable of contending. He went out around 3/4 of the way through with "engine trouble." That's all the television coverage said: "Newman has retired with engine trouble." Gee thanks, TV guys. Now I know the guy's name isn't Earnhardt, Gordon, or Stewart, and he doesn't drive a Toyota, but I think a little more in-depth coverage is required for a guy who was a threat to win and all of a sudden goes to the garage. At least tell us the nature of the problem (a fluke malfunction, driver error, a potential chronic problem that might afflict other Dodges, etc.), maybe even get an interview. Nothing. That was really pathetic.

Now onto the finish. See, NA$CAR has this little rule that when the caution flag comes out, the standings are immediately frozen...no racing back to the finish line. They also have had this little rule, at least since the 1940s, that says when cars start spinning, hitting the wall, and sliding upside-down along the track, the caution flag comes out.

Today, NA$CAR decided to alter the rules to provide a spectacular finish. A huge wreck occurred coming out of turn 4 on the final lap, involving cars third place on back. They didn't throw the caution until the first two cars crossed the finish line, allowing a race to the checkered flag. Now I'm all for racing back to the finish line...I think deciding to not allow it was one of the nails in racing's coffin...but NA$CAR needs to be consistent in their application of the rules, even if it means the show won't be quite as dramatic.

Basically, the reason I think racing, at least in NA$CAR, is dead is because they're gradually taking racing out of it. Killing the race back to the flag is part of it, homogenizing the cars is another part of it, and one of the one's that really displayed today...the pit lane rules...are another part of it.

In my opinion, the slow agonizing death of NA$CAR began when they disallowed racing on the pit lane. It was done in an attempt to make the pits safer (after all, when the cars are only going 55 in the pits instead of 120, how can't it be safer?). Here's how. Along with instituting a pit speed limit, they also decided to close the pit lane immediately when a caution comes out. What this means is that the cars have to form up behind the pace car before they can pit. This causes all 40-odd cars to pit at the same time instead of scattered cars diving into the pits before they form the pacing line. 40 cars on the pit lane at the same time causes chaos and danger. Just today there was one accident and a couple of crewman injuries. Just about every Daytona 500 for the past 15+ years has had accidents and crewman injuries on pit lane. Not to mention how it's commonplace in the 35 other races as well. It's idiocy that defies common sense, as a measure that's supposed to make things safer actually makes things more dangerous.

I guess the same could be said about the "temporary solution" restrictor plates, which are still "temporarily" in use 20 years after the fact, but I digress.

Congratulations to Kevin Harvick; that was a heckuva power move that last half lap. It's just a shame that even a finish as good and close as that can be marred by NA$CAR's inconsistency and stupidity.