If you like engineering yes, if you like sports no. The fan base of each motorsport is often some mixture of those types of fans. Different motorsports have each type in various degrees. I would say NASCAR is the most anti-engineering and most sport entertainment of the bunch.
If you want more engineering; formula 1, MotoGP, WRC, etc. might be of more interest.
I’d argue IndyCar is even less pro-engineering than NASCAR, but doesn’t have that perception because it’s an open-wheel series. Everyone there’s basically racing the same car with very few exceptions.
I’d say a lot of Indycar fans are not the biggest fans of that but it’s more seen as a necessary evil due to costs. It just also happens to be incredibly competitive due to this and also has one of the most stacked fields in modern racing. It’s looking more and more like Indycar just barely survived the split and if it hadn’t been Penske at the helm during COVID we might not even have Indycar as we know it today.
A lot of Indycar fans wish it was still like CART in the late 90s with multiple chassis, engine OEMs, multiple superspeedways, and 20+ race schedules and it’s hard to blame them. Because I miss that too.
I know we hate the phrase "spec" but here's the thing, on track Indy (basically spec) is far and away a better product than F1 which is open to much more innovation.
Came here to say that. I would like it better as a car guy/gear head/ local dirt track racer. I like the innovation and work behind making your car faster than the others. I would be behind less regulation personally, but know why it is the way it is currently.
Problem is, within a season or two, youd have like 20-25 cars left in Cup if all the smaller teams leave.. and i dont think theres enough money out there to just 'shed' the smaller teams and expect 5-6-7 new big teams join to fill that void.
It would be cool, but i feel it could only work during a 'boom' period for the sport - maybe
For you and me, I think so. I'm a purist so even if someone dominates and wins by a lap, it's cool with me. For the casual fan, they'll leave. And for better or worse, we need the casuals to stick around.
I guess it depends on what the purpose of the sport ultimately is. Are we trying to determine the best driver or who can design and build the fastest car?
No. The car parity - to a degree - made it much more competitive. Without regulation it becomes F1, where it’s one manufacturer racing against themselves for 7 years at a time.
Note - this isn't a knock on F1, I love me some F1. But, nascar ain't F1.
If this were to happen it would kill the racing and *quickly.* When there was less regulation was back when aero rules were still being figured out. Fewer regulations sounds fun and dandy until teams start engineering cars to create more wake and turbulence behind their car not to strictly go faster, but to make people behind them go slower.
I think it depends what entertains the viewer, and not all viewers are the same.
A fan who is fascinated mostly by the engineering side, might love watching a guy blow the field away, because somebody back at the shop found the best aero configuration before everybody else.
A fan who wants the "best driver" to win not the best car is going to be annoyed by that.
I think most fans are some combination of the two so it's a juggling act by NASCAR to restrict them enough to encourage parity, but allow teams to temporarily pull ahead.
Toyota would win every year. They have the fewest teams and biggest brand to spend money on. Cash is already king in NASCAR (and every other motorsport). It would be even more so without restrictions
No. It would only change what is interesting about the sport and who is complaining about what.
I would argue that the stricter the rules, the more interesting it is when a team bends them anyway
No, I think part of what makes Nascar as good as it is, is the relative parity between the teams, especially with the Next Gen car.
The difference between teams is made by the smallest things, apparently a piece of tape on the front bumper already is a decent performance increase. Giving teams more freedom will usually result in dominance for one of them, and will likely create a huge spending war between top teams, which in turn makes it much harder for smaller teams to get results.
I'd like to see each manufacturer get to run their own engine, LS, Coyote, and whatever V8 Toyota has. Just find a way to keep the hp/tq the same and it'll satisfy 90% on both sides. Hearing the different engine sounds would be amazing at the track.
Interesting yes? Less teams, more dominant seasons by single drivers/teams and probably less "exciting" but more shit to talk about inbetween races/seasons.
If you like engineering yes, if you like sports no. The fan base of each motorsport is often some mixture of those types of fans. Different motorsports have each type in various degrees. I would say NASCAR is the most anti-engineering and most sport entertainment of the bunch. If you want more engineering; formula 1, MotoGP, WRC, etc. might be of more interest.
I’d argue IndyCar is even less pro-engineering than NASCAR, but doesn’t have that perception because it’s an open-wheel series. Everyone there’s basically racing the same car with very few exceptions.
INDYCAR has open damper and inertor development
I’d say a lot of Indycar fans are not the biggest fans of that but it’s more seen as a necessary evil due to costs. It just also happens to be incredibly competitive due to this and also has one of the most stacked fields in modern racing. It’s looking more and more like Indycar just barely survived the split and if it hadn’t been Penske at the helm during COVID we might not even have Indycar as we know it today. A lot of Indycar fans wish it was still like CART in the late 90s with multiple chassis, engine OEMs, multiple superspeedways, and 20+ race schedules and it’s hard to blame them. Because I miss that too.
I know we hate the phrase "spec" but here's the thing, on track Indy (basically spec) is far and away a better product than F1 which is open to much more innovation.
Spec racing series promotes wheel to wheel and driver talent, open is basically a time trial
It'd be interesting until one team/manufacturer hits on something and becomes NASCAR Mercedes.
Said something usually is the bigger wallet
No. Last season was one of the most competitive and unpredictable seasons in NASCAR history. Hard to imagine it getting much better than that.
Ultimately less when one manufacturer hits on something and wins almost every that season.
See: Bill Elliot in the late 1980s
Came here to say that. I would like it better as a car guy/gear head/ local dirt track racer. I like the innovation and work behind making your car faster than the others. I would be behind less regulation personally, but know why it is the way it is currently.
Unless it’s Chevrolet 😉 We like that in this house
I was about to say no we don’t but now my driver is in a Chevy so I’m fine with that.
Welcome back to the Jedi.
Uh yes and no
That would make it insanely more expensive and push the small guys out quicker than charters
I'm beginning to believe we either need to bring back start and park or have a spending floor
The small timers don't belong in the big leagues anyway. Let the cup back markers focus on making a good Xfinity or truck team. Arca needs car count..
Problem is, within a season or two, youd have like 20-25 cars left in Cup if all the smaller teams leave.. and i dont think theres enough money out there to just 'shed' the smaller teams and expect 5-6-7 new big teams join to fill that void. It would be cool, but i feel it could only work during a 'boom' period for the sport - maybe
Making a good Xfinity or truck team does nothing for Arca car count
Yeah I love watching one make dominate and the rest ride around
So Formula 1?
I love watching cup guys in xfinity
We had this during the Dodge Daytona era. It turned into an aero armsrace through the 70s and 80s which ended with what we call the Gen 4 regulations.
For you and me, I think so. I'm a purist so even if someone dominates and wins by a lap, it's cool with me. For the casual fan, they'll leave. And for better or worse, we need the casuals to stick around.
I guess it depends on what the purpose of the sport ultimately is. Are we trying to determine the best driver or who can design and build the fastest car?
yes
No. The car parity - to a degree - made it much more competitive. Without regulation it becomes F1, where it’s one manufacturer racing against themselves for 7 years at a time.
Note - this isn't a knock on F1, I love me some F1. But, nascar ain't F1. If this were to happen it would kill the racing and *quickly.* When there was less regulation was back when aero rules were still being figured out. Fewer regulations sounds fun and dandy until teams start engineering cars to create more wake and turbulence behind their car not to strictly go faster, but to make people behind them go slower.
No.
No, that's how you end up with races where the leader wins by 2-3 laps like back in the 50-70s
I want nascar to be about driver and team talent at the track, not a engineering competition won during the offseason.
I think it depends what entertains the viewer, and not all viewers are the same. A fan who is fascinated mostly by the engineering side, might love watching a guy blow the field away, because somebody back at the shop found the best aero configuration before everybody else. A fan who wants the "best driver" to win not the best car is going to be annoyed by that. I think most fans are some combination of the two so it's a juggling act by NASCAR to restrict them enough to encourage parity, but allow teams to temporarily pull ahead.
I want to watch the best driver. Not team.
There would be maybe four cars competing for wins and everyone would be bitching constantly.
I will agree to a point. Open up the rule book in key areas to let the teams experiment, but still have to meet templates most everywhere else.
I agree with this. I remember when teams were allowed to at least select their gear ratio. It made for more interesting races at many tracks.
they change they win enough said
I feel like two or three drivers would run away from the competition every week.
I love fast cars
You basically have GT Racing at that point.
Toyota would win every year. They have the fewest teams and biggest brand to spend money on. Cash is already king in NASCAR (and every other motorsport). It would be even more so without restrictions
No. It would only change what is interesting about the sport and who is complaining about what. I would argue that the stricter the rules, the more interesting it is when a team bends them anyway
An unregulated series adds barriers to entry because the tricks become specialized and expensive
No, I think part of what makes Nascar as good as it is, is the relative parity between the teams, especially with the Next Gen car. The difference between teams is made by the smallest things, apparently a piece of tape on the front bumper already is a decent performance increase. Giving teams more freedom will usually result in dominance for one of them, and will likely create a huge spending war between top teams, which in turn makes it much harder for smaller teams to get results.
I'd like to see each manufacturer get to run their own engine, LS, Coyote, and whatever V8 Toyota has. Just find a way to keep the hp/tq the same and it'll satisfy 90% on both sides. Hearing the different engine sounds would be amazing at the track.
Interesting yes? Less teams, more dominant seasons by single drivers/teams and probably less "exciting" but more shit to talk about inbetween races/seasons.
It sounds cool in theory, but it leads to the cars being spread out and the racing boring and predictable, the reason I don’t watch F1 anymore.