The Building Speed Blog

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. […]

Aerodynamics

Why Does Bump Drafting Seem Much Harder in 2012?

2012-02-25 dr. diandra 1

Although there is a lot of science behind bump drafting, the act of bump drafting is an art. Even the experienced bump drafters are surprised by the touchiness of the cars this year. […]

Cooling

What’s a Pop-Off Valve — and Why You Need to Know for the Daytona 500

2012-02-21 dr. diandra 3

One thing you will hear a lot as soon as coverage of practice starts Wednesday will be speculation about possible changes to the pop-off valve on the radiator. What is a pop-off valve and how will it affect the Daytona 500? Here’s the answer: […]

Electronic Fuel Injection

How close is NASCAR EFI to “Real” EFI?

2012-02-17 dr. diandra 10

As we turn on the (new) engines to start the season, the twitterverse is getting even more full of people debating the NASCAR EFI system. Is it like the EFI in production cars? Is it throttle body? Is it multiport? Here are the answers: […]

Aerodynamics

Daytona Testing Notes: The Magic 200 MPH Mark — Not

2012-01-13 dr. diandra 0

There is absolutely nothing magic about the 200-mph mark.

People have been treating the 200-mph number like it was handed down by a sacred oracle. […]

Cooling

The Motorsports Science Minute Video: Radiators at Daytona

2012-01-10 dr. diandra 4

Thursday marks the first time we’ve had an open test at Daytona in a couple of years.  With the myriad rules changes aimed at getting away from two-car drafting, the teams are going to need […]

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”? […]