Drivers

Childers, Rodney

Phoenix: Relay Race?

2012-03-06 dr. diandra 1

The race at Phoenix was the first non-restrictor-plate race. A number of drivers experienced engine-related problems, leading some media outlets to start blowing the “EFI problems” horns as loudly as possible. Mark Martin, the pole sitter, was an unfortunate casualties of a “flipped circuit breaker”. One of the most interesting exchanges to me was a series of tweets and a radio interview with Mark Martin’s Crew Chief Rodney Childers (@rchilders55) in which Childers repeatedly said it not “an EFI problem”, the radio commentators persisted in saying that it was. […]

Allmendinger, A.J.

More Ragan vs. Allmendinger Statistics: Running at Finish

2011-12-30 dr. diandra 0

Great comment from Robby on my post statistically comparing AJ Allmendinger and David Ragan:

One thing you didn’t really factor which is a big deal to car owners is busted equipment. David Ragan destroys alot of race cars…AJ is one of the least wreck prone drivers in NASCAR. Ragan’s low finished were often a result of a wreck. AJ’s bad finishes were generally the result of bad handling cars or bad luck (Dover, Indy, Texas). […]

Vickers, Brian

Allmendinger vs. Ragan: Moneyball Turning Left

2011-12-26 dr. diandra 7

Before Best Buy took their electrons (and dollars) to RoushFenway last week, everyone assumed David Ragan was a lock for the then-empty Penske 22 seat.  Once A.J. Allmendinger landed the 22 job, there’s been a […]

IndyCar

OPINION The Future of Motorsports Safety II: The Center for Motorsports Safety Research

2011-12-15 dr. diandra 2

The official Indycar report on Dan Wheldon’s death was released today. The obvious question is “what do we do now”? […]

Electronic Fuel Injection

Not Fine with Me!

2011-11-19 dr. diandra 6

C’mon NASCAR – I keep trying to defend you and you keep making it hard for me.

@jeff_gluck reports that @nateryan told Brian France that NASCAR seems like

“…an autocratic regime that doles out punishment in a capricious manner.”

While I agree with those sentiments entirely, a slightly different word comes to my mind: “chicken%$!#” […]

IndyCar

The Future of Motorsports Safety I: Catchfences, Open Cockpits, High Banking and High Speeds

2011-11-14 dr. diandra 7

Since Dan Wheldon’s fatal accident at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, I’ve read many words of grief, tribute and, more recently, of thoughts about what happens next. […]

Edwards, Carl

Ray Evernham on Carbon Monoxide

2011-07-02 dr. diandra 0

Ray Evernham was one of the first people who realized the carbon monoxide (CO) has an effect on driver that could be affecting his performance. “(I could tell immediately) …by the way Jeff answers me […]

Busch, Kyle

Why Six Points is About Right for What Used to be a 25-Point Penalty

2011-06-15 dr. diandra 2

I was watching the movie A Clockwork Orange the other night.  There is a scene where Malcolm McDowell, having been “rehabilitated” and returned to society incapable of defending himself, is being beat up by an […]

Edwards, Carl

Pocono: Slightly Shifty

2011-06-11 dr. diandra 0

The big news for Pocono is that drivers can shift…again. Which brings up the obvious dual questions of: Why would you want to? and Why didn’t you before? […]

Vickers, Brian

Mending Brian Vickers’ Broken Heart

2010-08-22 dr. diandra 3

Having stepped out of his ride due to the discovery of blood clots – very unusual for an otherwise healthy 26-year old – Brian Vickers’ future in racing has been a big question mark.  Brian […]