Records Fall at 2010 Daytona 500
A number of records and race bests were recording in Sunday’s Daytona 500. For instance:
- There was a Daytona record 21 different leaders.
- There were 52 lead changes, which is third-most ever at Daytona.
- There were 170 green flag passes for the lead, by FAR the most ever at Daytona since the inception of the Loop Data statistic in 2005. Here's a breakdown, race-by-race in the Daytona 500:
02/14/10 170
02/15/09 34
02/17/08 77
02/18/07 45
02/19/06 82
02/20/05 29
- There were 9,450 green flag passes, the most since the inception of Loop Data in 2005.
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Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
How To Make The Daytona 500 Field 2/6/10
How To Make The Daytona 500 Field
Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is unlike any other qualifying procedure in auto racing. Drivers have two chances to qualify for the season-opening race, as opposed to the one qualifying session format used at other races.
The first chance: Daytona 500 Qualifying, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 6.
The second chance: The Gatorade Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races held on Thursday, Feb. 11.
Below is a breakdown of the Daytona 500 qualifying procedure:
Daytona 500 Qualifying Day
• Each team may run two laps with the fast lap counting as a qualifying time. The two fastest qualifiers are “locked into” the front row for the Daytona 500. Those are the race’s only guaranteed positions coming out of qualifying day.
• The Gatorade Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races, determine starting positions for the Daytona 500 beyond the front row. In the event of cancellation, the field will be set according to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.
Gatorade Duel
• The highest-ranked 35 teams in final 2009 car owner points will be assigned to Gatorade Duel races based on those points. Teams with odd-numbered owner points positions will compete in the first Gatorade Duel race; even-numbered owners will compete in the second.
• The only exception is that the fastest qualifier from Daytona 500 qualifying will start on the pole in the firstGatorade Duel race and the second fastest qualifier will start on the pole in the second, regardless of 2009 car owner points.
• Teams who failed to finish in the top 35 of the 2009 owner points will be assigned to a Gatorade Duel race based on qualifying times. The fastest qualifying team goes to the first Duel; the second-fastest next to the second, etc., alternating through the remaining entries.
• Starting positions for the Gatorade Duel races are based on qualifying times.
Daytona 500 Lineup
• The two fastest qualifiers are locked into the front row.
• Finishing positions in the Gatorade Duel races will determine the other starting positions in the Daytona500.
• The top two “non-top 35” teams in each Duel race will earn a spot in the Daytona 500.
• Based on their finish in the first Duel race, the highest-ranked 35 in 2009 car owner points plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 teams will be lined up on the inside row (odd-number starting positions).
• Based on their finish in the second Duel race, the eligible highest ranked 35 plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 teams will be lined up on the outside row (even-number starting positions).
• The remaining positions will be filled based on qualifying.
-If one or both teams on the front row are not top-35 teams, the number of teams that get in based on time are reduced accordingly.
• The 43rd starting position will be assigned to any owner who has the most recent eligible past NASCAR Sprint Cup champion who did not make the race by any other method providing the driver competed in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. If the 43rd position remains unused it will be assigned to the next highest qualifying time.
The bottom line, regarding who gets locked in the Daytona 500 field:
– The top two qualifiers from Sunday.
– The remaining top 35 guaranteed starters.
– Four drivers from the Gatorade Duel at Daytona (two non-top 35s from each race)
– Remaining drivers not in through the above methods can fall back on Sunday’s qualifying times or being past champion.
Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is unlike any other qualifying procedure in auto racing. Drivers have two chances to qualify for the season-opening race, as opposed to the one qualifying session format used at other races.
The first chance: Daytona 500 Qualifying, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 6.
The second chance: The Gatorade Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races held on Thursday, Feb. 11.
Below is a breakdown of the Daytona 500 qualifying procedure:
Daytona 500 Qualifying Day
• Each team may run two laps with the fast lap counting as a qualifying time. The two fastest qualifiers are “locked into” the front row for the Daytona 500. Those are the race’s only guaranteed positions coming out of qualifying day.
• The Gatorade Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races, determine starting positions for the Daytona 500 beyond the front row. In the event of cancellation, the field will be set according to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.
Gatorade Duel
• The highest-ranked 35 teams in final 2009 car owner points will be assigned to Gatorade Duel races based on those points. Teams with odd-numbered owner points positions will compete in the first Gatorade Duel race; even-numbered owners will compete in the second.
• The only exception is that the fastest qualifier from Daytona 500 qualifying will start on the pole in the firstGatorade Duel race and the second fastest qualifier will start on the pole in the second, regardless of 2009 car owner points.
• Teams who failed to finish in the top 35 of the 2009 owner points will be assigned to a Gatorade Duel race based on qualifying times. The fastest qualifying team goes to the first Duel; the second-fastest next to the second, etc., alternating through the remaining entries.
• Starting positions for the Gatorade Duel races are based on qualifying times.
Daytona 500 Lineup
• The two fastest qualifiers are locked into the front row.
• Finishing positions in the Gatorade Duel races will determine the other starting positions in the Daytona500.
• The top two “non-top 35” teams in each Duel race will earn a spot in the Daytona 500.
• Based on their finish in the first Duel race, the highest-ranked 35 in 2009 car owner points plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 teams will be lined up on the inside row (odd-number starting positions).
• Based on their finish in the second Duel race, the eligible highest ranked 35 plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 teams will be lined up on the outside row (even-number starting positions).
• The remaining positions will be filled based on qualifying.
-If one or both teams on the front row are not top-35 teams, the number of teams that get in based on time are reduced accordingly.
• The 43rd starting position will be assigned to any owner who has the most recent eligible past NASCAR Sprint Cup champion who did not make the race by any other method providing the driver competed in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. If the 43rd position remains unused it will be assigned to the next highest qualifying time.
The bottom line, regarding who gets locked in the Daytona 500 field:
– The top two qualifiers from Sunday.
– The remaining top 35 guaranteed starters.
– Four drivers from the Gatorade Duel at Daytona (two non-top 35s from each race)
– Remaining drivers not in through the above methods can fall back on Sunday’s qualifying times or being past champion.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Nascar Update Drug Policy 1/2010
NASCAR has an extensive list of banned substances in its 2010 rule book, which also states that the list is “non-exhaustive.”
One of the criticisms of the NASCAR random drug-testing policy implemented in 2009 was that there was no definitive list. NASCAR sent a list to the teams in December 2008 to use as a guideline in testing crewmen, but the policy itself had no definitive list. Not having a list is one of the reasons suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield claims he should be reinstated in a lawsuit against the sanctioning body and policy administrator Aegis Sciences Corporation.
The drug-testing policy is now part of the NASCAR rule book, while before it was a document signed by the driver, who acknowledged understanding the policy, when getting a NASCAR license.
“Prohibited substances are those substances that, in Aegis’s determination in consultation with NASCAR, may adversely affect the safety and well-being of the Competitors, Officials, and/or spectators, or the performance of a Competitor or Official in or at a NASCAR Event, including without limitation illegal drugs,” the rule book states. “Aegis, in consultation with NASCAR, may make this determination with respect to a particular substance at any time, including and without limitation at the time of discovery of the substance following a drug test.”
The rule states that competitors and officials are prohibited from using, possessing, purchasing, selling or participating in the distribution of any illegal drug, regardless of the amount. Illegal possession and distribution of prescription or over-the-counter medication is also prohibited.
The rule book lists banned drugs that might not fall under that category. It also notes that derivatives of the prohibited drugs are not allowed and that the list is not exhaustive.
Among the drugs listed:
• Stimulants, such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA) and Phentermine.
• Narcotic analgesics, such as hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, heroin, codeine and hydrocodone.
• Ephedrine, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine if used in a manner inconsistent with the instructions provided by the drug manufacturer or in a manner or amount that risks the health, safety or impairs a driver.
• Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam (Ativan), oxazapam (Serax), temazepam (Restoril), Alpha-hydroxyalprazolam (Xanax) and Nordiazepam (Valium).
• Barbituates, such as amobarbital (Amytal) and secobarbital (Seconal).
• Performance enhancing drugs, such as Human Growth Hormone (hGH), as well as anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), including testosterone.
• Muscle relaxers, such as carisoprodol (Soma), meprobamate (Miltown, Meprospan).
• Sleep aids, such as zolpidem (Ambien)
• Beta blockers, such as alpernolol and carteolol.
• Alcohol: A competitor is prohibited from consuming any alcohol 12 hours prior to or during on-track activity. A driver is considered unfit if the blood-alcohol level is above 20 milligrams per 100 milliliters (0.02 percent).
• Dietary supplements with a warning advising non-use if the purchaser is subject to a drug-testing program even though available without a prescription.
• Masking agents designed to avoid detection, including Aromatase inhibitors that may be used to biologically manipulate the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio, and/or using epitestosterone to artificially alter the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio.
One of the criticisms of the NASCAR random drug-testing policy implemented in 2009 was that there was no definitive list. NASCAR sent a list to the teams in December 2008 to use as a guideline in testing crewmen, but the policy itself had no definitive list. Not having a list is one of the reasons suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield claims he should be reinstated in a lawsuit against the sanctioning body and policy administrator Aegis Sciences Corporation.
The drug-testing policy is now part of the NASCAR rule book, while before it was a document signed by the driver, who acknowledged understanding the policy, when getting a NASCAR license.
“Prohibited substances are those substances that, in Aegis’s determination in consultation with NASCAR, may adversely affect the safety and well-being of the Competitors, Officials, and/or spectators, or the performance of a Competitor or Official in or at a NASCAR Event, including without limitation illegal drugs,” the rule book states. “Aegis, in consultation with NASCAR, may make this determination with respect to a particular substance at any time, including and without limitation at the time of discovery of the substance following a drug test.”
The rule states that competitors and officials are prohibited from using, possessing, purchasing, selling or participating in the distribution of any illegal drug, regardless of the amount. Illegal possession and distribution of prescription or over-the-counter medication is also prohibited.
The rule book lists banned drugs that might not fall under that category. It also notes that derivatives of the prohibited drugs are not allowed and that the list is not exhaustive.
Among the drugs listed:
• Stimulants, such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, Ecstasy (MDMA), Eve (MDEA) and Phentermine.
• Narcotic analgesics, such as hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, heroin, codeine and hydrocodone.
• Ephedrine, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine if used in a manner inconsistent with the instructions provided by the drug manufacturer or in a manner or amount that risks the health, safety or impairs a driver.
• Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam (Ativan), oxazapam (Serax), temazepam (Restoril), Alpha-hydroxyalprazolam (Xanax) and Nordiazepam (Valium).
• Barbituates, such as amobarbital (Amytal) and secobarbital (Seconal).
• Performance enhancing drugs, such as Human Growth Hormone (hGH), as well as anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), including testosterone.
• Muscle relaxers, such as carisoprodol (Soma), meprobamate (Miltown, Meprospan).
• Sleep aids, such as zolpidem (Ambien)
• Beta blockers, such as alpernolol and carteolol.
• Alcohol: A competitor is prohibited from consuming any alcohol 12 hours prior to or during on-track activity. A driver is considered unfit if the blood-alcohol level is above 20 milligrams per 100 milliliters (0.02 percent).
• Dietary supplements with a warning advising non-use if the purchaser is subject to a drug-testing program even though available without a prescription.
• Masking agents designed to avoid detection, including Aromatase inhibitors that may be used to biologically manipulate the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio, and/or using epitestosterone to artificially alter the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Nascar 2010: Spoiler specifications
Spoiler Specs Announced: Specifications for the new spoiler and quarterpanels on Sprint Cup cars were sent in a memo Monday to teams by series director John Darby. According to the memo the spoiler that will replace the current wing will sit 4 inches atop the deck lid when measured from the centerline. The spoiler will be level across the top with a ground clearance of 43.52 inches from the top of the spoiler to the ground with the chassis on 6- and 8-inch blocks. The spoiler will be 64½-inches wide and one piece from right to left. It will be fabricated from 3/16-inch thick aluminum and fixed at 70 degrees. The fuel filler hole must be relocated forward of the left lower tip of the spoiler. Also, right and left quarterpanel extensions will be added to all cars. The extensions will be 4 inches long toward the ground at the rear wheel opening. The modifications, according to the memo, are not to be used in competition until all wind tunnel and on-track tests are completed. An open test [at Charlotte] is scheduled for all teams in March. The changes are being made in hopes of improving downforce and improving the quality of racing. They are not expected to be used for the Daytona 500 that kicks off the season on Feb. 14. The Bristol race in March is a more likely target
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