Allmendinger, A.J.
Infographic: Energy Drink Label Comparison
With all the talk about phenyalanine being a potential problem in energy drinks, thought I’d point out that fuel in a bottle isn’t the only energy drink that includes it.
The Building Speed Blog
Allmendinger, A.J.
Drug Testing FAQ
Some clarifications to clean up the incorrect information circulating around in the wake of A.J. Allmendinger’s failed drugs test. More questions – send them to admin(at)buildingspeed(dot)org and I’ll add them […]
Building Cars
Glass Cockpits
When I first saw on twitter that Brian France had said NASCAR was looking at “glass cockpits” for the future, I was a little mystified. (You can see exactly what he said on @nateryan’s twitter […]
Collisions
Safety: It’s not just how fast you go – it’s how fast you stop.
One of the biggest concerns in motorsports wrecks is peak force – that’s the maximum force experienced by a driver in a collision. As the diagram to the right shows, the force you experience in […]
Aerodynamic Forces
Rules Changes…Again
NASCAR issues rules change on Wednesday – one of which extends an earlier rule change to try to improve aerodynamics at intermediate tracks. The other is designed to cut off an entirely new direction of research before it starts. […]
Busch, Kyle
Infographic: Current Drivers’ Rookie Years
Just out of curiosity, I pulled up some data from racing-reference.info on different drivers’ rookie years in the Cup series. The data are from each driver’s first full year as a Cup driver. I picked […]
Aerodynamic Forces
200-mph Laps at Michigan Are Not Like 200-mph Laps at Superspeedways
People worry that 200-mph laps at Michigan International Speedway could make cars airborne, as can happen at superspeedways. Should they worry? […]
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway Pole Speeds
There’s been a huge increase in Michigan International Speedway pole speeds this year. Is it the biggest increase ever? […]
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan: Don’t Believe the Speeds
All the talk at Michigan about high speeds and the hoopla over passing the 200-mph barrier prompts me to offer this caveat: Take the speeds you hear with a grain of salt because the average lap speeds are estimates, not measurements. […]
Aerodynamic Forces
The Myth of the 200-mph “Lift-Off Speed”
The speeds at Pocono were high, but the speeds at newly repaved Michigan are even higher. Nine drivers posted lap times over 200 mph on Thursday, leading to media and driver hysteria about the high speeds. What is the lift-off speed at Michigan? […]