Off-Topic Forum

Well, the only way Max doesn't dominate this season is if he goes out and injuries himself. Probably from zoning out from boredom after having another huge lead in a race. I only caught the 2nd half of that race as I was on an international flight. Missed Indy altogether.  

FWIW, F1 tends to need 2 week breaks at time due to their 1) longer travel schedule (they travel the world after all) and 2) the engineering on their cars is so finely tuned that it's also fragile (and much more expensive to repair). 

I missed this F1 race, but if Max dominates, I don't see an issue with ratings.  I think the ratings will get bigger in the U.S. with them adding another race.  It seems F1 has exploded in popularity in the last couple years (I love the coverage they use from Sky Sports, which basically eliminates commercials during the race).  In fact I get more excited for F1 than I do other races anymore.  I never thought about the traveling being a reason for more weekends between races.  If that is the case, I wish it was more uniform (like every other weekend) instead of 2 weeks then race then 1 week, then 3 weeks. I haven't looked into F2 and the other races, but maybe they could supplement them in the off weeks.

As for Xfinity, I know Cup drivers can only compete in 5 races, and I think they are restricted from playoff races too, but it seems every week there is one Cup driver who races, and usually does well, and it still hurts the regulars competing for points.  Maybe if they didn't run so well, I wouldn't have a problem, lol, or make it so if they do compete, have them park during the last stage.  By then they should know how the track runs, or at least have a backup/truck driver compete in the final stage. 

Until recently F1 was more consistent with the schedule, every 2 weeks (every other weekend) give or take and then a lengthy summer break during holiday season (August for those who don't know). Now they in the cycle that they are more popular which breeds more races which breeds more popularity. This year is their longest season yet, on top of not being as impacted from pandemic/geopolitical concerns of recent years.

I'll admit that I'm excited to see the Vegas race. That's more exciting to me than NASCAR in Chicago ( knew jerk reaction to Vegas/Miami?). Sky Sports is the only way to watch. And as for the ratings, I agree, they'll be there for a bit. And now that an American is back in the field (finished 12th for a usual back marker Williams team) that'll help in the US. Poor kid will be overwhelmed iby press in Miami.

I put scheduling of all series directly on TV Networks....

F1 only recently started having broadcast competition from other sports outside of the US....

With worldwide broadcasts of Football, Basketball, even Soccer, F1 now is

in the situation for TV time that Nascar has had since races started being broadcast.....

It was never hard for F1 to be the most popular sport on TV in Europe, when nothing else

was being broadcast....

As usual, the NASCAR Cup race in Phoenix was mostly boring. It did get exciting at the end though. I still don't know why NASCAR decided to move the title race at the end of the year to AZ. Miami-Homestead was already boring, so they moved it to an equally boring track. I hope a new track becomes the finale in 2024! Phoenix has always been boring unless the field gets bunched up at the very end. The tracks coming up in the next few weeks should be fun to watch though.

Still having unnecessary cautions during the last 10 laps.....

Instead of 2 lap shootout, race should finish with at least 10 green flag laps...

Could be more or less depending on track size....

Hard not to come to the conclusion that the races are fixed.....

Just a few laps to go and a stupid spin like that, drivers that spin near the

end should be parked at that point....

What do you all think about the penalties levied against all 4 HMS cars and Haley in the #31 Kaulig car? "Altered louvers"? NASCAR knew they were altered and still let them use those in practice before confiscating them afterwards. The Hendrick cars still smoked the field in qualifying and then the race too, without those "altered parts". Seems like NASCAR is scared that Hendrick has done something completely legal that has nothing to do with the aero package that gives them a huge advantage. The penalties levied against all 5 cars is overboard though. Not only suspending ALL of the crew chiefs for a month with a $100K fine, but the deduction of 100 points for each team and 10 playoff points if they make the playoffs! Seems like overkill for something they didn't even use in a race and HMS still dominated the race. I'm not sure what NASCAR is trying to accomplish here but it looks like they are trying to give HMS the hardest road possible to win a title.

Also, Denny Hamlin totally deserved his penalty, but I have no idea why he did what he did at the end of the race on Sunday. If Denny would just keep his mouth shut, he probably wouldn't have gotten a penalty at all. Bragging about wrecking someone on purpose on a podcast is NOT smart at all in any way. Plus, there was no reason to wreck Chastain anyway. Denny dropped his finishing position by at least 15 spots and I don't recall any issues b/t the 2 drivers in this race. I know Denny is still not happy with what all happened b/t he and Ross last year, but why take "revenge" now?! Denny's stupidity in that moment will cost him $50K and 25 points. So Denny actually cost himself about 40 points in the standings AND now NASCAR is watching his on-track actions even closer. His attitude is exactly why he's never won a title and I hope he never does.

Anyway, ATL should be more interesting since NASCAR moved the commitment line for pit road back into Turn 3 instead of entering Turn 4. The timing line sitting right there is probably the biggest factor though. I hope that "timing line" doesn't create disaster.

Last thing: JJ has finally confirmed that he will race the #84 car at COTA the following weekend. Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button will also be in cars for the COTA race. That should be interesting too.

OK So I totally agree with the Denny thing, If he would have shut up it wouldn't have been a thing. It is going to be interesting to see how they hide intent going forward.

AS for the Hendrick thing, I 100% disagree. All teams were told there are parts on the cars that cannot be touched PERIOD. they tried to cheat and got caught. Everyone knew the penalties before and, They were all told what the penalties are before season started. It just seems more because all 4 of their cars were caught with modified part that was supposed to be just bolted on, Not touched in any way. It serves them right, You cheat you pay. I am glad they got caught, This will shut alot of people up that say Hendrick gets away with a lot and they pay NASCAR. The only thing I see as a problem is with Chase in the playoffs if he makes it. The rest have plenty of time to make it up. 

Do feel little bad for Haley tho. I wonder if they knew the part was modified when they go tit from Hendrick?

I agree completely with Hamlin's penalty and honestly feel they should have did something last year with his actions. Carrying it over to this year, then bragging about it was just stupid. Hopefully he learns from this and stops making these mistakes (although I seriously doubt he will) since they have happened for his entire career. As for Hendrick, I feel like the rules were likely explained to the drivers, teams, and owners prior to any events. Like Adam stated, Hendrick still smoked the field on Sunday without the altered part, so I belive Hendrick has either 1) put something else on the cars as well as the altered part or 2) found a loophole within the rules. If I were a team and dominated the way Hendrick has, I would almost create the altered part for them to find so NASCAR doesn't continue looking for the item that has actually made us faster, especially if the penalty for an altered part is less than the penalty of whatever other item may be changed. Not saying this is actually the case, just listing it as what would be my mindset if I knew an inspection was coming up and I was going to get caught with something. Might as well pick the lesser of two penalties if given the opportunity. I do feel badly for Haley though since the team likely had no knowledge of the alteration beforehand.

You brought up some great points. I know Chad Knaus even stated on the Dale Jr. Download about how many times he brought illegal cars to tracks and left lesser things for them to find. I have 3 relatives that work for Hendrick and 1 that work for JGR. They have all admitted to cheating. But wouldn't say what exactly. Its NASCFARS job to find it.  But i would love to see stiffer fines/Penalties for taking cars out of race. Still dont agree to Byron's penalty least year when he did it under caution. It doesnt matter, You hit someone and make them spin, You should be penalized.