Earlier today I posted a response over at the great mynameisIRL.com blog defending fuel knobs in the IRL.
My original responses:
Although somewhat lackluster, the current IRL (overtaking) is still far more entertaining than when (in 2003) I went to a race (KY) only to see Sam Hornish Jr. LAP THE ENTIRE FIELD! Keep in mind this is when Chevrolet, Toyota & Honda were supplying engines and Dallara & Panoz were supplying Chassis. Everyone griped and complained that it wasn't entertaining (like now).
Years later (after single engine mfg./tires) the IRL got rid of the fuel knobs (like you guys want) AND THEY CAME BACK! I think what you guys might REALLY want to mix up the competition instead is a new chassis for 2010 given that the teams just have had this one for so long that they found every bit of speed in them. Then every team would have to "figure out" the new formula, although to it's credit it has been a very good chassis for driver safety. I don't know how feasible this is with the current IRL money issues, but it might give you racing you find more entertaining.
I believe it adds a depth to the strategy, and that a skillful driver can run a disciplined race and use it effectively for a strategic edge.
BP in Louisville (me)
Just to get everyone else up to speed, there has been a bit of chatter online lately that the IRL should do away with the fuel setting knobs on the steering wheels of the cars. These knobs make it possible to run "fuel strategies" and allows a driver to conserve fuel when possible. This is how Danica Patrick won in Japan last year. You will often hear the television commentators refer to it as one of their "tools" along with the weightjacker, ETC..
Well, what do you think? The poll is to the right---------->
Thursday, July 2, 2009
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2 comments:
Hey, nice blog! I voted no on the poll, but I think (as I wrote over at My Name is IRL) that there's an aspect that hasn't been addressed: the currently available settings are actually too close together. It would work better if there was a killer setting that adds 30 HP and seriously goes through fuel. But Honda won't add a setting that stresses the engines that much, because they don't want to see engine failures. So given that we're stuck with the current situation, then take the knobs off. I don't know if they are actually hurting that much, but they aren't helping.
Nice observation, I never thought about Honda not wanting to push their engines to unsafe points for a possible failure given that they've been so reliable, Thanks for the post!
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