Speed Racer
aka "mach5driver"
By Seattle Times news services
NASCAR's efforts to equalize cars have produced races where passing has become extremely difficult.
A computer analysis by Gannett News Service reveals 26 percent more crashes and spinouts in 2003 than last year (235, compared with 186 in 2002). Many in the sport attribute the increase in on-track incidents to passing difficulties that led to overaggressive driving.
NASCAR officials don't agree that parity is causing more accidents, but they do acknowledge that it is too hard to pass. Next season, they will introduce subtle rule changes they hope will lead to more passing and better racing without upsetting the relatively level playing field.
Many Winston Cup Series races in the last two seasons resembled parades — 55 of 72 didn't have a lead change in the last 10 laps.
An important point, NASCAR president Mike Helton said, is that the 2003 season didn't have many major injuries. Jerry Nadeau had a head injury from a crash in May but is expected to make a full recovery.
"In our style of racing, you're going to have incidents and accidents and spinouts," Helton said. "But if the number of incidents are up, that's a lot easier to talk about than it would be if the number of injuries were up."
For the first time, NASCAR forced Dodge, Ford and General Motors teams to use nearly identical body designs or common templates this season. Officials use metal templates to measure each car's body every weekend.
NASCAR's efforts to equalize cars have produced races where passing has become extremely difficult.
A computer analysis by Gannett News Service reveals 26 percent more crashes and spinouts in 2003 than last year (235, compared with 186 in 2002). Many in the sport attribute the increase in on-track incidents to passing difficulties that led to overaggressive driving.
NASCAR officials don't agree that parity is causing more accidents, but they do acknowledge that it is too hard to pass. Next season, they will introduce subtle rule changes they hope will lead to more passing and better racing without upsetting the relatively level playing field.
Many Winston Cup Series races in the last two seasons resembled parades — 55 of 72 didn't have a lead change in the last 10 laps.
An important point, NASCAR president Mike Helton said, is that the 2003 season didn't have many major injuries. Jerry Nadeau had a head injury from a crash in May but is expected to make a full recovery.
"In our style of racing, you're going to have incidents and accidents and spinouts," Helton said. "But if the number of incidents are up, that's a lot easier to talk about than it would be if the number of injuries were up."
For the first time, NASCAR forced Dodge, Ford and General Motors teams to use nearly identical body designs or common templates this season. Officials use metal templates to measure each car's body every weekend.
