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Old 05-02-2005, 06:25 AM   #26 (permalink)
ARTelevision
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Yep. Gordon simply dominates.
I was listening to Jr. a little on pitcommand as I usually do. He has sounded downright depressed for weeks.

On restrictor plate racing, well the drivers do not seem to like it at all. I suppose the crowds do. I think it's OK for a couple of races but here's an opposing view from the Dallas Morning News:

Until NASCAR resolves restrictor-plate issue, it will be more of same

BY TERRY BLOUNT
The Dallas Morning News

TALLADEGA, Ala. - (KRT) - NASCAR has to find a better way.

For the sake of safety, for the sake of sanity, do the right thing and figure out a solution to the constant danger that is restrictor-plate racing.

It wasn't a surprise when 25 cars became scrap metal in an instant with 55 laps to go in the Aaron's 499 Sunday. It didn't shock anyone when six more cars spun and crashed on the backstretch, forcing an overtime finish.

Fortunately, everyone walked away. But is it worth the risk?

"Everyone out there was being really calm today for a long time," said driver Brian Vickers. "Then we had the biggest wreck we've ever had."

On Lap 133 when the accident happened, 36 lead lap drivers were running three wide with only 1.6 seconds separating first to 36th.

And the sellout crowd of more than 170,000 spectators loved every minute of it. The race had 33 official lead changes among 16 drivers before Jeff Gordon won in overtime.

It was Gordon's fourth win in the last five restrictor-plate races.

"There are certain parts of this kind of racing that I love," Gordon said. "What I don't like is bunched-up cars and big wrecks."

Drivers were side-by-side and bumper-to-bumper all day. It's exciting. It's breathtaking. It's the kind of close action every fan hopes to see.

But is it worth the risk? At some point, someone is going to pay a price for NASCAR's version of Russian Roulette.

Saturday's Busch race had two major accidents involving 25 cars. Only 12 cars were undamaged when the race ended.

No question, Talladega races are a heck of a show. If the fans answered truthfully, most of them would say they come to giant Alabama track hoping to see "The Big Wreck."

No one wants to see a driver hurt, but seeing a dramatic crash is part of the fun. It's not fun for the guys sitting in the driver's seat.

"It's like being in the middle of a nightmare," said Tony Stewart, who finished second. "Luckily for me, this one has a having happy ending."

NASCAR uses the restrictor plates to choke off the engines and slow cars to around 190 mph. Without the plates, the cars would reach speeds of 230 mph.

But slower isn't better if almost every restrictor-plate race has a major accident that takes out half the field.

For NASCAR, it's no harm, no foul. Cars are destroyed, costing teams tons of money. No big deal. TV ratings for Daytona and Talladega races are higher than most other events.

The incentive to change isn't high if no one is getting hurt. Even with all the safety advances of the last four years, it's only a matter of time until a big wreck results in more than torn up racecars.

NASCAR officials say there's no viable option to with restrictor plates. How can that be?

Some of the best mechanical engineers in the world are working in NASCAR today. All those bright minds can't find a solution?

NASCAR is planning a major engine change for the 2007 season. How about an engine that wouldn't need a restrictor plate at the two super speedways?

It wasn't long ago when many people in NASCAR thought a collapsible barrier was impossible. It couldn't be done.

Thanks goodness they found Dr. Dean Sicking, who developed the SAFER barrier.

A portion of the barrier had to be repaired during the red flag. It's scary to think what might have happened without the barrier.

Racing cars is inherently dangerous, but drivers become unwitting daredevils at Talladega at Daytona. Every moment of every lap is a chance for disaster in a restrictor plate race.

"I know NASCAR does this to slow the cars down," Rudd said after crashing Sunday. "But you can't put us out there in this situation and think this isn't going to happen. I don't know what the answer is, but this isn't racing."

It's time to find a better way before it's too late.

.....

from: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...s/11539949.htm
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