- iRacing.com Announces iRacing 2.013,049
- iRacing.com to create virtual McLaren MP4-12C GT39,282
- Scanning What’s in Store for iRacing with Tony Gardner7,401
- Dave Kaemmer Comes Clean on Dirt7,399
- The iRacing.com Protest System – May, 20126,716
- Improving the Sound of iRacing5,634
- iRacing 2.0 Debuts in 2011 Season 34,934
- Preview Shots of HPD ARX-01C, Ford GT & Suzuka4,892
- Two New Cars and Two New Tracks Coming to iRacing Soon4,800
- iRacing.com to Build Digital Honda for New Super GT Series4,523
- iRacing.com Announces iRacing 2.0 41
- The iRacing.com Protest System - May, 2012 30
- iRacing Announces Added Features, Lower Prices 24
- No Obstacles Here 18
- Scanning What’s in Store for iRacing with Tony Gardner 18
- Improving the Sound of iRacing 15
- V8 Supercars to Sanction iRacing.com Series 14
- iRacing 2.0 Debuts in 2011 Season 3 13
- Tips from a Human Sim-Racer 12
- iRacing.com to Build Digital Honda for New Super GT Series 11
- iRacing.com2340
- NASCAR 1893
- Motorcycles 1844
- Formula Cars 1707
- WRC 1429
- IndyCar 1299
- Touring Cars 873
- Sports Cars 307
- Other Racing 356
NASCAR moves to limit tandem racing
September 22nd, 2011
NASCAR has announced technical changes ahead of next month’s Chase race at Talladega in an attempt to limit the tandem racing that has prevailed this year at restrictor-plate tracks.
Drivers will have available up to 10 horsepower more relative to the last time they raced at the 2.66-mile oval in the spring, after NASCAR decided to increase the size of the restrictor-plate opening by 1/64th of an inch up to 57/64ths.
Additionally, the relief valve on the car’s cooling system will be re-calibrated to reduce pressure by around eight pounds per square inch, which should prevent engines from running on the edge of the temperature gages for as long as before.
Similar moves were implemented ahead of the season-opener at Daytona, including setting a limit on the grille opening to decrease cooling and try to prevent drivers from pushing each other for many laps.
However, the two-car drafts still prevailed during the event as drivers were able to adapt their drafting technique to keep temperatures under control before having to switch positions in their formation.
The new style of drafting was also seen at Talladega and more recently during the summer at Daytona, where the need for a drafting partner was key to contend for victory.
“After the last few superspeedway races, we’ve heard many drivers express their desire to open up the size of the restrictor plate some and we thought the time was right to do that,” said NASCAR vice president of competition Robin Pemberton.
“We anticipate these revisions in the rules package for Talladega will help continue to provide competitive and exciting racing for the fans.”
Some drivers, including five-time Talladega winner Dale Earnhardt Jr have been critical of the new style of racing, calling for a change the last time the series raced at Talladega.
“Over the long haul, it’s not the best,” Earnhardt Jr said at the time. “It is not as good as 40 dudes in one pack racing like hell trying to get to the front. It is nowhere near as good as that. Give me that any day over this…
“People will realise it and go ‘Yeah, ok.’ The novelty of this… once new of all this wears off how interesting this is and how unique it is wears off, I think that people will start to see.”
It remains to be seen how much will the new package get in hindering drivers from making the tandem as effective, with higher speeds expected from the increase in horsepower.
Hendrick Motorsports dominated earlier this year at Talladega, Johnson taking his only win of the season thus far while pushed by his team-mate Earnhardt.




David Phillips
Chris Hall
Jameson Spies
Jason Lofing
Tim Terry
David Allen
Allen Krier
Chris Cunningham
Tim Doyle
David Roberts
Ben Rothberg
Dylan Sharman