Accordian Drill

[DerElf]

One thing that I have not seen brought up that I think must be mentioned. This comes from one of the "guys in back" who have had to live through (or survive is a better word) the accordian effect.

Certain drivers, who will remain nameless, believe that as pole sitter they are entitled to play "tactical games" with the other guys at the start, slow down, speed up, jack rabbit then return, that sort of stuff. They do this with little regard for the other competitors in the field who may not have qualified as high as they have but paid the same d**n entry fee to get there and are entitled to have a good SAFE start as much as the first two rows.

On several occasions though this sort of shenanigans have lead to carnage at the middle and tail of the field, with near collisions and general sloppiness caused by somebody up front "brake checking" his competitors in the points race. At Sears point two years ago I had the strarter come to ME after the race and get in my face about how DISGRACEFUL the Vee start was...I had qualified 16th! I said talk to the guy on the pole!

Some of the Vee guys told me that just such nonsense was going onon Saturday and was partially to blame for the HORRIBLE start (I am still amazed they got the green).

Comments?

[qposner]

I agree that type of stuff is BS at the start. There is a time and place to try and gain an advantage by playing games. For instance, on a restart I have no problem with someone laying way back in order to get on it early, surprising the guys behind him and getting away. However, I agree starts should be more orderly. By all means, if you can time the flag and get a jump on the guy in front of you (legally), that is great. However, I just don't think there is much of a place for playing the on it/off it games.

In defense of the vees, I don't think that occured with us on Saturday. I was right behind Blake and we got on it trying to catch the fords (we were almost at race speeds from turn 10 to the main straight since the pack was SO strung out). However, the ford pack stopped (I assume due to an accordian effect) which forced us to go into the dirt. Probably just a result of the pace car going too fast for a field that size which spread both classes out, aggressive drivers in the vee pack, and less aggressive drivers at the back of the ford pack (one crossle driver told me they aren't aggressive back there).

[dave FF 50-aka "Harm"]

I qualified fairly well both days (3rd) and so had a front row seat for both starts. Zack West was on the pole Sat and Peter on the pole Sun. From where I sat, both starts were smooth, gentle acceleration towards the green. I was in 1st gear about 50-55 mph both times. The pace lap was another story. The pace car, especially on Sun was flying until turn 11, but with a field that large, I know that was not enough time to get lined up in the back. The front rows did not get 2 X 2 until half way between 13 & 14. With 20 rows, that is not enough room to get 2 X 2 all the way back. I think the accordian drill is just like on the freeways. Some one goes too fast and hits the brakes and holy hell breaks out getting worse each row back.
dave

[brian]

Sounds like the pace car driver needs some input. I've watched and participated in SF starts and it appears that a certain pace car driver wants to participate in the race. Big late swirves into the pit lane and other games don't impress anyone.