Special Rule for the Daytona Sprint

[lepage71]

The following post applies to the two separate "Daytona Sprint" events for the CUP and NBS series on February 7th and 8th.

For the 2009 season, a qualifying race (Daytona Sprint) will once again determine the starting grid for the first points event at Daytona (1. Daytona).

Drivers who are unable to make the Daytona Sprint will be added to the rear of the starting grid for 1. Daytona. If you know that you're going to miss the qualifying race, then you may use a substitute driver in order to secure a better grid position. Additionally, if you commit a serious enough infraction in the Daytona Sprint, then you may lose your spot and be sent to the rear of the starting grid for 1. Daytona.

The Daytona Sprint will also be used to test an experimental rule prohibiting blocking in the left-most lane. We're interested in studying the large-scale dynamics of this rule over the time period of an entire race. The rule may or may not be implemented for future restrictor-plate events.

Outline of the rule:

Before anything, a couple terms are important to define. A "pack of drafting cars" means 2 or more cars drafting together. A single car running alone, therefore, is not considered to be in a pack of drafting cars. A "pack leader" is a driver who is leading a pack of drafting cars. A pack leader may be leading only 1 car or may be leading 20 cars. As the field spreads out, there may be multiple pack leaders across the track. For example, both the race leader (1st place) and the 15th-place driver may be pack leaders at the same time on different areas of the course.

1. A PACK LEADER may not continually occupy the left-most lane on the BACK STRAIGHT of the track in order to prevent passing. The only exception is the final lap of the race: a driver may occupy the left-most lane on the back straight in order to block cars from passing with one lap remaining. On ALL OTHER LAPS, a pack leader must be in a spot at least one car width to the right of the apron line OR anywhere further to the right towards the wall.

2. Sometimes, two or more cars may be racing side-by-side at the front of a pack of drafting cars. Obviously, you can't be a pack leader until you're clearly in front of all cars behind you. You don't have to move to the right when there's a car or two in the way. You can be in the left-most lane AS LONG AS YOU WANT if there's actual racing occuring and you can't move to the right. You may not, however, intentionally let off of the throttle so that you're always next to another car.

3. The rule is flexible, much like the "four-tire rule" at road courses. The very instant that you might have occupied the left-most lane too long does not mean instant penalty. If the administrators feel that a pack leader has run in the left-most lane for an unreasonable amount of time, however, then blocking penalties may be assessed.

4. We don't want accidents to happen because pack leaders are paranoid about penalties and try to force their way to the right when space to do so may not exist. You should use awareness and move out of the left-most lane when an opportunity exists.

Please remember that this rule is not a license to break existing rules. Dangerous driving is still dangerous driving.

My editorial note:

I don't think this is as radical a change as some fear. First, the rule only applies to the back straight. There's not necessarily going to be constant passing at the front of packs around the entire course. Secondly, you're able to race and pass at every other type of track. Daytona, of course, is different with many cars packed together. A constant conveyor-line for the lead of packs may develop or may not develop. There is no law of physics, however, that forces you to always cut underneath a pack leader and earn a fleeting, momentary advantage. Smart drivers will know that this constant trading for position doesn't put you there for very long and that a large train of cars on the right side of the track can easily out-muscle a couple impatient drivers constantly looking to pass on the left side. If the rule makes things unpredictable, then that's good because actual racing is occuring. Ultimately, there's no right or wrong strategy under this new rule, we're simply interested in measuring the race-long effects with it in place.

Let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this special rule.

[viagra6car]

So how exactly are you going to set the grid for the first race then? Tell me it isn't a pace lap

Sounds like you're bringing in a rule like we had in the old lch haha

[Reef]

ha

[lepage71]

Yes, a pace lap will be used at 1. Daytona. A pace lap worked reasonably well back in in the 2006 CUP Series event at Daytona, so it shouldn't be something to worry about. It's also the only race where we use one so it's not a long-term issue.

The rule is basically the same as your LCH league, but it only applies to the back straight.

[viagra6car]

The backstretch rule should be fine if you have a specific lane or line pointed out to use...although people will probably try to use 1/4 or 1/2 of that lane to hold a spot

[bover907]

What if a group of drivers are in a line (lets say 4 guys from a team, or just working together) and all are in agreement on who is going to lead that pack for a certain number of laps? Is this acceptable? This is what most teams end up basing their plate track strategy on. If this pack of 'team' cars has to constantly play leap frog, it'd be a real pain not to mention a safety hazzard, imo. Also, it'd defeat the purpose of a team drafting together. When you watch Daytona races on TV and the Hendrick, or DEI or Penski team mates are drafting together by themselves, they don't leap frog eachother.

Please advise.

[Rookiesrock]

Bover I asked this same question. There is nothing stopping a pack of cars from staying in any order they want lap after lap as long as the lead car goes up at least 1 lane on the back stretch.

[bover907]

Oh yeah, duh that makes sense. ops:

[SpeedyExiter]

if they violate that rule ,I vote for stop sticks to be implemented immediately, followed by the pit manuever if the sticks are some how misplaced and the driver swerves and avoids them!!LMAO :lol: :lol:

[SpeedyExiter]

Bover I asked this same question. There is nothing stopping a pack of cars from staying in any order they want lap after lap as long as the lead car goes up at least 1 lane on the back stretch.

which at that time what happens ,,??the other ,lets say 3,do what?Follow the leader and keep up their pack speed,alowing another pack to take over the inside lane.....NOOOO.......that would be stupid......or stay low passing the leader and
playing leap frog every lap, ...or slow down themselves keeping slightly behind the leader,thereby they can still hold the inside lane,since their leader of their pack is not one of them.Its the guy in the next lane to the right.Now all the 3 in the leftlane need to do is slow down staying slightly behind ,not breaking any rules,the leader,still in the next lane to the right blocks any attempt at passing from any approaching packs.When all get thru the back stretch they allow the "Leader" to move back into the front of them,thereby still keeping their lead position!!! Except ,of course, ,another pack decides to say F this and tries to go three wide and most likely ,cause a big Crash which eventually will happen .So .....hmmmmm...did i miss any other possible scenarios,besides the one where the 3 follow the leader 1/2 in thier lane and 1/2 in his Lane.and still know gets by. : : :
,

[DavisV]

For the Daytona Sprint races do we qualify or is it a random start? I can't remember.

[SpeedyExiter]

For the Daytona Sprint races do we qualify or is it a random start? I can't remember.

either can they : :lol:

[d3efan]

please define "continually" as it applies to sub paragraph 1 in the rule, as it seems unnecessary. i believe the intent is for a draft pack leader to exit turn 2 at least one lane high and never occupy the bottom lane. too bad you have to be so specific with some folks :doubt: hehe

[Petty43]

This all sounds like some Corporate Propaganda. :lol:

[d3efan]

continuing my above post after thinking some more, dangerous (thinking), I know...but, it makes sense, you do away with the bottom hogging, by simple making a draft leader stay at least 1 lane up on the backstretch. This also answers Bov's question too. a draft pack can simply swap leaders intentionally by having the new leader pass low on the backstretch. Hopefully, a fast pack of cars (and the TTR bunch are...) can maintain a fast pace no matter which lane they are in.
Smarmy!

[bover907]

a draft pack can simply swap leaders intentionally by having the new leader pass low on the backstretch. Hopefully, a fast pack of cars (and the TTR bunch are...) can maintain a fast pace no matter which lane they are in.
Smarmy!

Yes Dan, but after re-reading the rule, a concentual drafting pack doesn't have to swap leaders. That draft pack as a whole is following the rule simply by running a lane or so high on the backstreach. So, if a pack of drivers wants a certain guy to lead for howerver length of laps, they can. "Splendid!"

[SpeedyExiter]

Here,s a question for all.Your the pack leader ,of 3 cars.> # 1 # 2.# 3(all teamates) As u enter the backstretch ,another pack of 3 cars closing, moves up along side the #3 on the outside continuing to close,(per new ruling, since you have led
pack more than 1 lap thru backstretch,YOU (the #1 car)has to pull to next lane to the right of inside lane),Thereby ,helping the 2nd pack of cars,as they pick up your draft,leaving your 2 teamates by themselves .
Now as you begin to enter turn 3 ,What do you do???? Stay high? Go low? SLow down ?abandon teamates? BEcause in less
than a lap, your gonna have to pull to the right again, "IF" your the pack leader of 2 or more cars drafting together ,regardless of which team they belong to ,.............allowing any /or all cars the oppurtunity to pass inside!
Just something to think about.
Does anybody really think that this rule will make this race more competitive and more fair? Even a Noob, like me can envision alot of confusion ,unnecessary Rear Mirror watching, and even more Leap frogging ,wrecks,and the winner just being lucky enough to be in the right place at the end.
Instead of fast laps, you'll have faster lapse = (webster's definition)to fall from a better or higher state into a lower or poorer one /Backslide/recede .etc

[Rookiesrock]

So far online tests haven't been positive. The last two nights of practice using the "rule" have brought up some negative scenarios. For example if your pitting, and your the leader of a pack, you will get hung out and will not make pit road. If you stay low you will recieve a penalty. And if a rule is made to allow pitting, what if you were going to pit but called it off for some reason? Another penalty! The backstretch lanes are not marked for 3 lanes thus creating a dangerous situation inviting 3 wide traffic every lap. Also I believe that it isn't fair to dictate where a pack of cars can drive when trying to catch up to another group. The fastest way around the track is the bottom groove. Why can't it be used to catch other packs? Speeds at the practices were off by a half second because of this rule. I suspect ulterior motives behind this suggested rule.

[lepage71]

The rule intentionally allows for some flexibility in these ambigious situations. You won't be penalized for staying in the left-most lane in order to begin the pitting process. In this scenario, you're not blocking in order to prevent passing because you're about to give up those positions.

As a pack leader, you shouldn't be changing your mind because there's usually no one in front of you to suddenly discourage you from pitting. If it becomes obvious that you are taking advantage of this situation, however, then penalties may be assessed.

I haven't seen more crashes in practice than usual with this rule, but certain situations require some thinking. That may or may not be a good thing for the field as a whole.

At the moment, this is simply a test to see if the racing at Daytona can be improved. The rule may or may not be implemented in the future.

[bmxtwins]

Yeah lepage it may be flexible but depends whos giving out the penalties... lets hope its not hitler!!! :badgrin: Penalty Natzis will be loving it