Drivers react to NASCAR’s use of tire packs to implement observe limits

In Mexico Metropolis, NASCAR has positioned tire packs across the observe on the apex of a number of corners, even including one other one after the primary follow session. Whereas drivers could use as a lot pavement as they need in some areas, such because the exit of the ultimate nook, NASCAR needs to keep away from drivers chopping corners.

They’ve additionally painted yellow strains by means of the esses, and crossing that line will lead to a stop-and-go penalty at a chosen location across the observe. However the addition of tire packs is a welcomed one for many drivers, who would fairly concentrate on avoiding these than having to fret concerning the painted strains on the observe.

Wallace in favor of tire packs

 “I feel it’s good for us,” mentioned Bubba Wallace when Motorsport.com requested concerning the tire packs in a Friday press convention. “Us Cup drivers, we push to search out the boundaries of the race vehicles and the race tracks, and it looks as if we’re at all times revamping the race tracks to fulfill the motive force’s wants – like, effectively the observe must be wider right here for us. Decelerate, decelerate and we will make the nook.

“We’re taking a race observe and making it ‘Cup vehicles 2.0’ and it doesn’t make sense to me, so I used to be a giant fan of the tire packs. It forces you to remain on the observe limits and I spent the vast majority of my time on the sim, staying tidy and staying on the racing floor, and I feel hopefully that pays dividends for once we get on observe later. However I’m a giant fan of the tire packs, protecting us on line and protecting us on the racing floor.”

NASCAR can also be being cautious about putting tire packs within the quicker sections of the observe. They infamously put a tire pack on the exit of the unique Charlotte Roval chicane, which a number of drivers (together with Wallace) clobbered in ugly follow crashes. Thus far, the tire packs have triggered no points in Mexico Metropolis.

Altering the best way you method the nook with tire packs

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs

Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott was additionally requested by a unique media outlet about observe limits, noting how the tire boundaries weren’t there after they practiced on the sim in preparation for this weekend.

“I ran laps (on the sim) the place I used to be actually aggressive operating off the street and type of benefiting from completely different areas that I felt could be price just a little little bit of time. However I might say the vast majority of laps that I ran, you already know by alternative, was simply actually staying contained in the strains as a result of I had a sense that could be just a little extra of a actuality,” mentioned Elliott. “However, you already know, there are some areas that I feel you will reap the benefits of off the racetrack. I feel the tire boundaries have, particularly by means of (turns) eight and 9 or no matter numbers… I do not know which observe map you are taking a look at, proper, the numbers change. However the final two, that is earlier than you get to the stadium part, for readability, the tire packs, the place they’re situated by means of that part, I feel will considerably change how not less than I used to be approaching that part within the sim.

“However … we’ve got some follow to get a while on the observe. I feel everybody’s going to be tremendous aggressive with taking each benefit you can take and doubtless stepping over that line. And in the event you get caught, you will get caught, and also you’ll be taught what you possibly can and might’t do. So my intention is to go and push the boundaries so far as I can push them. I am going to in all probability step over them, you already know, at completely different closing dates. And I need to know for positive what is going on to be referred to as and what wasn’t.

Allgaier: “Any mistake generally is a huge mistake right here”

Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Picture by: Logan Riely / Getty Photographs

Motorsport.com additionally requested reigning NASCAR Xfinity Sequence champion Justin Allgaier concerning the tire packs throughout his press convention look. The JR Motorsports driver mentioned he and Michel Jourdain Jr. have been going over this very matter as he prepares for Saturday’s Xfinity race.

“For us, there are sections with observe limits and there are sections with out and I feel it may be attention-grabbing as a result of we’re in just a little little bit of a shifting goal,” mentioned Allgaier. “I feel observe limits might be relaxed or enforced more durable based mostly on how aggressive we’re, and the way a lot we’re making an attempt to make in these sections. The tire packs, or the boundaries that they’ve put in among the completely different corners of the racetrack, I feel are completely different than what I anticipated, till you see it and you are feeling it and perceive it. I imply, even so, (even earlier than making) a lap on observe, I am already altering my method to a few completely different corners. That is going to be one thing else that is very attention-grabbing to me, is how can we race right here? The place are the simplest passing zones?”

The tire packs additionally imply that drivers should be further cautious in minimizing errors as any off-road tour may lead to important injury to the automotive.

“Any mistake generally is a huge mistake right here,” famous Allgaier. “When you get off and also you make a mistake, perhaps apart from flip one, it has the potential to be a giant second and injury to your automotive proper so with out actually being able to go to a backup automotive, these are going to be necessary moments to not have, proper.”