By Lemmy Gibson
Formula One offers the most technologically advanced form of motor sports. While $300 million dollar budgets make for incredible cars, it doesn't always make for great viewing. That seems about to change.
What is the great debate between NASCAR and F1 fans? NASCAR says F1 is boring because there isn't much passing. F1 fans say that the passing in NASCAR is so easy it doesn't really mean anything. Who is right? It depends entirely on your point of view. While NASCAR isn't going to make any more changes after the massive upheaval of the recent introduction of the Car of Tomorrow, F1 is apparently going to make changes to create more on track excitement.
Certain Formula One races are incredibly exciting. The track at Spa, Belgium offers tons of competitive racing and many places to pass. This is perhaps why it is always near the top of the list of race tracks the drivers like the most. Then there are tracks like Hungary. There is one groove and no passing to speak of. Frankly, it is boring for even the most passionate of Formula One fans.
After years of shrugging their shoulders, the teams and powers that be in Formula One are now focusing on the idea of how to make the races more exciting. They have already taken steps to remove many of the aerodynamic aspects of the cars that were causing problems. What were the problems? The cars were so aerodynamically tuned that when they pulled up behind a car in front of them, they would lose down force and have to back off. This made passing impossible. Drivers are universally reporting that the new regulations haven't helped much with this problem.
The second step being thrashed around is the pathetic KERS system. The idea is to take energy created from the braking process and use it to power the car in short bursts. The KERS is being built from scratch for many millions of dollars. It is optional for 2009, but mandatory in 2010. As Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing said, the KERS doesn't help because the driver being passed will just press it when someone is trying to overtake them.
So, what changes will be put forth to make the racing more exciting? It is difficult to predict because one of the major problems has to do with the new tracks. The newer tracks tend to consist of long sweeping turns, which make passing very difficult. Think about driving your car and trying to pass a slower car in front of you while in a series of snaking curves and you have the idea. Why these tracks were ever allowed to be built is mystifying, but there you are.
Can Formula One spice up the show with more passing and drama? Yes, but one has a feeling that many of the provisions for doing so are going to be goofy at best.
Formula One offers the most technologically advanced form of motor sports. While $300 million dollar budgets make for incredible cars, it doesn't always make for great viewing. That seems about to change.
What is the great debate between NASCAR and F1 fans? NASCAR says F1 is boring because there isn't much passing. F1 fans say that the passing in NASCAR is so easy it doesn't really mean anything. Who is right? It depends entirely on your point of view. While NASCAR isn't going to make any more changes after the massive upheaval of the recent introduction of the Car of Tomorrow, F1 is apparently going to make changes to create more on track excitement.
Certain Formula One races are incredibly exciting. The track at Spa, Belgium offers tons of competitive racing and many places to pass. This is perhaps why it is always near the top of the list of race tracks the drivers like the most. Then there are tracks like Hungary. There is one groove and no passing to speak of. Frankly, it is boring for even the most passionate of Formula One fans.
After years of shrugging their shoulders, the teams and powers that be in Formula One are now focusing on the idea of how to make the races more exciting. They have already taken steps to remove many of the aerodynamic aspects of the cars that were causing problems. What were the problems? The cars were so aerodynamically tuned that when they pulled up behind a car in front of them, they would lose down force and have to back off. This made passing impossible. Drivers are universally reporting that the new regulations haven't helped much with this problem.
The second step being thrashed around is the pathetic KERS system. The idea is to take energy created from the braking process and use it to power the car in short bursts. The KERS is being built from scratch for many millions of dollars. It is optional for 2009, but mandatory in 2010. As Mark Webber of Red Bull Racing said, the KERS doesn't help because the driver being passed will just press it when someone is trying to overtake them.
So, what changes will be put forth to make the racing more exciting? It is difficult to predict because one of the major problems has to do with the new tracks. The newer tracks tend to consist of long sweeping turns, which make passing very difficult. Think about driving your car and trying to pass a slower car in front of you while in a series of snaking curves and you have the idea. Why these tracks were ever allowed to be built is mystifying, but there you are.
Can Formula One spice up the show with more passing and drama? Yes, but one has a feeling that many of the provisions for doing so are going to be goofy at best.
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