Open Wheel Racing 2021, anyone there to watch?

[Kepler]

It's an apples to oranges comparison in reality.

A NASCAR cup car weighs about 3,600lb. An F1 Car about 1,750. The classic LeMans "Prototype" car was about 2,000-2,200 lb

Once a Cup car gets rolling, it's very much resistant to any direction change compared to a European Sports car. European cars are much more nimble and hold a lot more technical advancement.

But in all seriousness I thought F1 topped out around 210 and NASCAR made 240+.

Am I smoking crayons? (I deliberately did not look it up to check myself.)

[RaceBoarder]

But in all seriousness I thought F1 topped out around 210 and NASCAR made 240+.

Am I smoking crayons? (I deliberately did not look it up to check myself.)

NASCAR's current speed record was set in 1987 at Talledega with a lap that averaged 212 mph. After that restrictor plates were implemented. Since then NASCAR has worked to keep their cars at a top speed of around 200-205 entering a corner and bringing corner speeds well down from that.

F1 never has the space to reach speeds greater than the 210 you mentioned. If they were to run the OG LeMans circuit with the Mulsanne not having any chicanes, they would easily hit 250 MPH (400+ KPH since we're using Euro-speak, lol). The current record belongs to the Project 400 car put out by Pugeot. That was set in the late 80s at like 405 kph... That was 30+ years ago and aero was still being learned. (The car was designed to set that record, not survive the race, so take that for what it's worth).

[Spartanforlife4]

The NASCAR team finished 39th at LeMans. 57 laps back, but they still finished, which is better than 21 teams can say.

Giovinazzi was one of the drivers on the winning Ferrari team.

[Russell Jaslow]

The NASCAR team finished 39th at LeMans. 57 laps back, but they still finished, which is better than 21 teams can say.

Let's put that in perspective here.

They weren't competing against anyone. They could take it easy mechanically (and even then, they had to rebuild their gearbox with two hours to go) and didn't have to worry about fighting with anyone on the track. No need to make aggressive passes or even worry about rushing a pass on a bookmarker because they were worried about losing time. A number of the DNFs were due to just that reason, slower classes getting in the way of cars which didn't have the luxury to wait to pass them.

Take Toyota as an example. In the past, they had no competition to speak of. And they rarely ran into trouble. Until this year, when they had to push their car more than in the past, and that sometimes resulted in mechanical issues or crashes.

[Kepler]

I watched a fair amount of this race as wallpaper. The late night parts were satisfying aesthetically.

[Russell Jaslow]

I watched a fair amount of this race as wallpaper. The late night parts were satisfying aesthetically.

I love watching endurance racing at night. It's even cooler in person, when you see the exhaust and brake rotors light up.

[Jimjamesak]

I watched a fair amount of this race as wallpaper. The late night parts were satisfying aesthetically.

Le Mans is just an aesthetically pleasing backdrop.

[Kepler]

Le Mans is just an aesthetically pleasing backdrop.

I am thinking it will become an annual ritual for me. Very zen.

[Kepler]

Haas on the front row. I've gotta call Gene!

[MichVandal]

Haas on the front row. I've gotta call Gene!

Hulk qualified 2nd, but got a three grid penalty for a red flag violation. After he finished his lap, he started another push lap, but was going to fast for the red flag that was flying. Too bad his team didn't tell him immediately- but at least he finished the lap before the flag came out.

[Kepler]

Hulk qualified 2nd, but got a three grid penalty for a red flag violation. After he finished his lap, he started another push lap, but was going to fast for the red flag that was flying. Too bad his team didn't tell him immediately- but at least he finished the lap before the flag came out.

And this is why we can't have nice things.

Well, this and Gene is a convicted criminal.

10-11. JFC, Ferrari.

[Spartanforlife4]

Three straight incidents for Checo during qualifying and Ferrari starts 10 and 11 after penalties. Will be interesting to see how that group moves up since they're starting 10-12 today.

[Kepler]

Bring back my wife's birthday twin.

[MichVandal]

And this is why we can't have nice things.

Well, this and Gene is a convicted criminal.

10-11. JFC, Ferrari.

Is he? Didn’t know that.

[Kepler]

Is he? Didn’t know that.

Yup.