Patrick Faces Male Pattern Idiocy in Jumping to NASCAR.

Posted by Jonathan in EQUIPMENT, GENERAL on 02-04-10    No Comments


Now can someone please explain to me how the fit, athletic — frankly rippen hot–  competitor on the left could possibly be at a sporting disadvantage to the plumb, cholesterol  ridden — frankly ugly —  athlete on the right?

Well, that’s excatly what the New York Times is talking about when it comes to Danica Patrick coming to NASCAR.

NY Times reports that many close to NASCAR are saying that the female Indy Car racer is facing physical disadvantages in attempting to race in NASCAR. And where this is coming from, who knows. It makes no tech sense whatsoever.

Never mind that Patrick is in better shape than many NASCAR drivers, the pudgy fella on the right is NASCAR champ and one time Burger King spokesperson Tony Stewart. NASCAR vehicles are frankly, at least on paper, can be easier to drive than open wheel racers like Indy Cars.  The average IndyCar comes in at about 1,600 pounds. It is  about 16 feet long and has a torque heavy, 10,300 RPM, 3.5 liter v-8 engine that throws off 650 horsepower. Or roughly a single unit of horsepower for every 2.5 pounds of car. There are  a complex series of front and back ground effect and wing configurations, all sorts of crap with tires and suspensions that affect performance and require real body strength to control. And these suckers run at an average speed of 220 miles per hour. Top speeds of 270 mph are possible.

Let’s compare that to NASCAR.

The current “Car of Tomorrow” can plump up to 3,800 pounds for the same 16 foot length. It is driven by a pretty close to factory push rod, big block V-8 engine. The unit cranks off what appears to be a phat 840 hp. The problem is, the NASCAR car is much heavier than the the Indy Car. So a single unit of horsepower has to push over 4 pounds of car.  And while NASCAR cars have lots of controls in terms of wings and suspension, there is just not the same complexity involved. NASCAR’s strict rules keep cars  even. And all this control and heavier weight is reflected in speeds. The flat out NASCAR record is about 220. And average track speeds are in the 180 mph range.

The fact is, Danica already drives a car that is 20 percent faster, triply more complex and much, MUCH more dangerous. Indy Cars are open wheel racers, that if they even touch a wall or other car, literally explode. The torque from the tires and the fragility of the designs make Indy Cars dangerous beasts indeed.

This is not to say NASCAR is for dopes. Or that winning here is easy. Or that NASCAR racers are not hard to drive. NASCAR is a tough physical event. But to say Patrick cannot be competitive because she’s a she … that’s nonsense. How she fares in this class will have to do with how she and her team decide they want to compete. New designs will have to be made to handle Danica’s particular strengths and weaknesses. I imagine steering systems will have to be modified. But there is no systematic, physical reason why she cannot win. And considering the BS she has to put up with, I almost hope she does it. Just to keep us boys in line.

It’s just wrong to say woman can’t win in NASCAR.



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