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the good, the bad, and the ugly of NASCAR |
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8:43 AM 0 comments
Auto Racing Legend Juan Montoya Leaves Formula One For NASCAR by David Maillie
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Famous Formula One racer Juan Pablo Montoya has officially turned in his keys and has embarked on a new career in NASCAR. As of Tuesday July 11, Montoya announced that he will be driving on Chip Ganassi's Nextel Cup team. Being that there are 4 Nextel Cup races left it is a sure thing that Montoya will make his debut some time this year before the season ends. Rumor has it that this was purely a financial move as the potential growth and current earnings of NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers have far outweighed that of their Formula One counterparts.
As announced in his latest press release, "Juan Pablo is an exciting driver and immensely likeable character who will undoubtedly make a successful transition to the NASCAR scene," said Ron Dennis, CEO and Chairman of the McLaren Group. "We have agreed that with so many things happening in Juan Pablo's life right now, he should take some time out of the car and prepare professionally and personally for the future." His decision to join NASCAR has been well taken to by both NASCAR and Formula One. "We believe that Juan Pablo's decision to move to NASCAR is very important for him professionally and we will give him every support to ensure that it is a successful transition," said Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.
Formula One will miss a very talented and adored driver, and NASCAR will gain a great driver with a hugely diverse and international following. NASCAR officials have been looking to add diversity to their Nextel Cup races as announced earlier in the year and Juan Pablo will be a very welcome addition. This will be a boon to NASCAR as it tries to maintain the remarkable growth it has seen in the past decade. By adding diversity they are looking to add to their fan base and change the misconception that it is a southern or redneck sport. With racetracks being built in Chicago, Las Vegas and California and races being held in new countries like Canada this will only help to further diversify the sport.
Yes, NASCAR still has a huge southern following and should be very thankful for it as this is the most intensely loyal fan base of any sport. Montoya will definitely add character, charm, and ability to the NASCAR crowd. He will also, undoubtedly, keep the other NASCAR drivers on their toes with his immense experience and superior open road skills. Montoya’s debut will definitely be a much anticipated and welcome event for NASCAR fans everywhere.
12:00 PM 0 comments
Nascar Flags and What They Mean by Jake Tyler
Have you ever noticed all the flags used on the track at Nascar races? Those different colors each have a different meaning. NASCAR Flags have been around as long as the sport of auto racing itself. Before there were two-way radios in NASCAR race cars, the only method of communicating with drivers during the extremely loud racing action was with the use of colored flags. These large, colorful flags gain the attention of drivers and are easy to see.
Almost every auto racing series uses the same combination of flag colors to keep things consistent. NASCAR drivers can see the status of the race by looking at the flag. Just as traffic signal lights at a street intersection let drivers know exactly what to do, these Nascar flags communicate different racing conditions to the Nascar drivers. The NASCAR flags are usually waved by a flagman on a platform at the start/finish line. Here is what the different colored Nascar flags mean:
Green Nascar Flag: The green flag is used to signal the beginning of the race or a race restart. Green means that the track is clear and the race cars may continue.
Yellow Nascar Flag: This Nascar flag is used to signal an accident, debris on the track, a mechanical failure or bad weather. The yellow flag means that the track is not clear. It signals drivers to slow down and hold their position. Drivers are allowed to group up behind the leader. A yellow flag during a practice race means the race cars should go to their pit stop immediately.
Red Nascar Flag: The red flag means that the track is unsafe and there is a situation that requires the immediate attention of Nascar officials. All race cars must stop. The red flag is usually waved in cases of heavy rain or an accident that requires medical assistance. A red flag can also mean that the race track is blocked by debris or a crashed car. A red flag during the closing laps of a race can also be waved to ensure the race ends under good conditions.
White Nascar Flag: The white Nascar flag means that there is one lap remaining in the race.
Checkered Nascar Flag: The familiar black and white checkered flag means the race is complete.
So there you have it, now you know what the different colored Nascar flags mean and why they are used.
11:59 AM 0 comments
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