Danika Patrick Article

[VF21]

There is no comparison between basketball and Indy racing. As far as having small jockeys, in horse racing you have handicapping so that the playing field is somewhat levelled. Horses carry various weights under their saddle pads to even out the field as far as how much weight they're carrying.

In auto racing, the technology exists to have those cars go much, much faster than they currently go. There are restrictions - primarily for safety issues - that make it safer for everyone concerned. What they do is try and level the playing field so the race is won NOT by the best tehcnologically designed car but by the best DRIVER. Cars are weighed so that they're all within existing limits. In NASCAR, the cars are weighed WITH the drivers in them so it's more about the skill of the driver and not anything else. I am proud of Danika for her accomplishments and I don't think she would object to having the contest be solely about her skill and NOT even a whisper about any kind of advantage she might get from being much smaller than the average driver. Why should she? She's damned good ... and I think she'll do just as well if her car has a little extra added weight to make the tangibles (car style, type of fuel, weight of vehicle, etc.) in line with everyone elses.

 

[BigWaxer]

I think the weight factor -vs- the weight factor in horses can be applied here to prove my point.

Dang didn't any of you watch Seabiscuit... LOL J/K

 

[thesanityannex]

What they do is try and level the playing field so the race is won NOT by the best tehcnologically designed car but by the best DRIVER. Cars are weighed so that they're all within existing limits. .

If that was true. All cars would be running about the same in qualifying polls. Some are not even close, and its not the driver, its the car. These cars are not equal, weight issues put aside.

 

[VF21]

There are subtle differences in the qualifying rounds, but it's not because each car runs flat out. A lot of times they will run just well enough to qualify, not wanting to give too much information to the other teams/drivers about what exactly their car can do. Sorry, thesanityannex, but your comment doesn't make any sense. There are tons of restrictions on the specifications for race cars. There can be minor differences but, for the most part, there are strict tolerances on just about everything.

 

[slugking50]

If that was true. All cars would be running about the same in qualifying polls. Some are not even close, and its not the driver, its the car. These cars are not equal, weight issues put aside.

Its a mixture of both. A good driver needs a good team. They need a Crew Chief/Manager that knows how to set the car for qualifying and the race itself. There are so many variables that make a difference.

Each teams/drivers have their strengths and weeknesses. just like each basketball does. Its a team sport but the driver is the most important piece.

 

[slugking50]

Haven't these 200 pound guys ever heard of conditioning? Racing is a "sport" after all...

Race car drivers are probably the most conditioned athletes in sports. They have to bare (especially NASCAR drivers) temeratures of upwards of 130F for 3 to 5 hours,driving anywheres from 120- 230MPH while encountering G-Forces of up to 6g's. If thats not conditioned then WTH is?

 

[Bibby_Is_Clutch]

When is the next IRL race? I wonder if they will resolve this problem before it starts.

 

[slugking50]

When is the next IRL race? I wonder if they will resolve this problem before it starts.

June 11 on ESPN.

They cant chage the rules till after the season.

 

[Rowdyone]

I think the drivers weight factor is only important if all of the cars are exactly the same and, despite rules that are designed to restrict inherent advantages of one design over another, no two cars are exactly the same. Some inferior cars win with superior drivers and vice versa given the multitude of factors involved in winning a race. Static weight, while important, is better served by distribution in the chasis to achieve better handling and tire wear and, in the final analysis, if it were THAT important you'd see owners scurrying to hire the smallest possible drivers and that's not the case. In fact, you could argue that the added weight of a male weighing up to 100 pounds more than Danika increases the chances of winning given the heat/stamina factor (you used to be able to say strength, as well, but not now since they all use power rack and pinion steering). Robby's mouth has always been faster than his cars and only exceeded by his ability to crash or burn down whatever he's driving so for him to take issue in a venue he doesn't even compete in is rediculous. I think the young lady should be treated equally as the men. It's a proven fact that women can withstand as many or more g's and have equal or superior reaction times to men. That's why the USAF allows them to be fly fighter planes since the planes keep getting faster and pulling more g's.

 

[6th]

I think the drivers weight factor is only important if all of the cars are exactly the same and, despite rules that are designed to restrict inherent advantages of one design over another, no two cars are exactly the same. Some inferior cars win with superior drivers and vice versa given the multitude of factors involved in winning a race. Static weight, while important, is better served by distribution in the chasis to achieve better handling and tire wear and, in the final analysis, if it were THAT important you'd see owners scurrying to hire the smallest possible drivers and that's not the case. In fact, you could argue that the added weight of a male weighing up to 100 pounds more than Danika increases the chances of winning given the heat/stamina factor (you used to be able to say strength, as well, but not now since they all use power rack and pinion steering). Robby's mouth has always been faster than his cars and only exceeded by his ability to crash or burn down whatever he's driving so for him to take issue in a venue he doesn't even compete in is rediculous. I think the young lady should be treated equally as the men. It's a proven fact that women can withstand as many or more g's and have equal or superior reaction times to men. That's why the USAF allows them to be fly fighter planes since the planes keep getting faster and pulling more g's.

Rowdyone, that is an excellent explanation. Thank you!!

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

Race car drivers are probably the most conditioned athletes in sports. They have to bare (especially NASCAR drivers) temeratures of upwards of 130F for 3 to 5 hours,driving anywheres from 120- 230MPH while encountering G-Forces of up to 6g's. If thats not conditioned then WTH is?

It was not my intention to degrade the racers or the sport (I regret the quotation marks)

My point was that certain sports lend themselves to certain body types.

 

[slugking50]

Rowdyone, that is an excellent explanation. Thank you!!

Said it alot better then I did.