It was supposed to add excitement. Give driver’s a reason to fight to stay on the lead lap It’s been two weeks now and the new restart system is becoming the norm in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and there’s talk that both the Nationwide and Truck Series will adopt the rule before season’s end.
Double file restarts, where the leader has lane choice and third place must always start on the inside, have historically only been used for non-points paying events, but NASCAR changed the procedures to point paying events starting with Pocono two weeks ago in an attempt to increase competition.
The old restart procedure put cars a lap down on the inside forcing those on the lead lap to try and pass them in order to then try and catch the leader. With the institution of the free pass or ‘Lucky Dog’ rule allowing the first car a lap down to get back on the lead lap however, the old double file restarts weren’t needed according to many.
The practice made its debut at Pocono where Tony Stewart came from the back of the field to score his first win as an owner-driver.
“It worked great,” Stewart said. “To the best of my knowledge, there weren’t any hiccups with people not understanding where they were supposed to be. It was awesome not having to deal with lapped cars on restarts. It was nice knowing that everybody you were around was for position.”
As the Sprint Cup Series heads to the road course at Sonoma this weekend though, not every driver thinks the double file restart is necessarily a great idea.
“I think NASCAR knew that trying it at Pocono and at Michigan were two good tracks to test it out and get some of the bugs worked out,” said Jeff Gordon. “I think its going to create some havoc at Sonoma and I am just anxious to get through it and see how it turns out and see if we need to.........the only way to know what you have is to race with it and while I'm not sure if we need it at a road course they are pretty adamant to do it there and we'll see how it turns out.”
Throughout NASCAR history, anytime the sanctioning body makes a change it’s usually met with a storm of criticism by the fans. Changes to the schedules, the way a champion is determined and even the cars that are raced have all been met by jeers from the fans.
So what about NASCAR’s decision to institute double file restarts? Did they make the right call? Has it increased competition? Should the other series adopt the practice right way or see how it shakes out in the Sprint Cup Series?
Comments
IMO, too early to tell, but think it has potential. Only change I'd make is if we're going to trick this up, give a Lucky Dog to the first car in each lap down group - ie first car 1 lap down goes to tail of lead lap cars, first car 2 laps goes to the tail of the one lap downers, etc up to 5 laps down. Beyond five, don't need to worry about it.
This modification would give a good car who gets caught in the pits at Bristol or Martinsville and goes multiple laps down the chance to race back to the front. Right now, its just the 1 lap downers.
You put lipstick on a pig, it is still a pig. The COT is a pig of a car and it is almost impossible to have exciting racing on anything other than a short track with it. The bigger the track; the more the cars get strung out and it ends up with the cars out there taking a fast sunday drive all by themselves. That ends up with BORING races until the last couple of laps.
I think the double file restart is a great idea. I would make the lucky dog whomever is the first car off the lead lap regardless of the number of laps they are down. That way the fastest car always gets the lucky dog. I think they should have left the road courses alone with respect to restarts. Yes it will be exciting to watch, but the potential for carnage is too high.
Wait until we get to the short tracks. Any problem that causes a green flag stop or any other problem that gets the driver down over a lap or two will destroy all chances of winning. Let Jr. or Jeff or another popular driver have a flat and listen to screaming for another change.
Overall I like it a alot. However, I'm concerened a front running car may have a flat tire, loose a lap. And never have a chance to be up front again. Let's say there are already five cars a lap down, the car running in first gets a flat. That driver will never have a shot at getting there lap back because they won't be in position for the lucky dog. So I agree with Ken, let a "start" be caught in that postion and hell will fly from some fans. Bristol and Martinsville will be interesting.
It didn't make the racing more exciting at Michigan. The leader just as quickly distanced itself from the pack of lead lap cars as they did under the old rules.
The new rule does make it harder for cars a lap down to get the lucky dog because the cars not on the lead lap has to fight past all the lead lap cars BEFORE the leader catches the back of the field.
At short tracks, that happens very quickly. You could have a very fast car one lap down and never have the opportunity for the lucky dog.
How about a lucky dog for the first car one lap down and if necessary, the first car a lap down who started a lap down during the caution before?
I've thought that the lucky dog should go to the first car a lap down and any car between the leader and that car. That way cars multiple laps down have a change to make their laps up.
I know. Crazy talk. lol
The racing hasn't changed with all lead lap cars up front. I think Nascar thought the cars would not get so strung out if the faster cars were starting together. Not happening. They need to look at the COT and why when you are mid pack you can't go anywhere.
If you believe, as I do, that NASCAR uses debris cautions as a way of controlling the excitement level of a race, then you will conclude that this change will have minimal impact on how things play out during a race. If a car gets too far out front or if a "favorite" gets in any kind of jeporady, the caution will still be used to solve the problem. NASCAR, the TV networks and the sponsors all realize that long green flag runs are poison. While I agree that all the lead lap cars should restart in front of all the lap down cars, I believe they should restart in the same order and position as they were running when the caution came out and in single file formation. The leader earned the right to be out front and that advantage should not be taken away because a caution came out. When a pitcher in baseball has a perfect game going, they don't make him pitch underhand so the fans can see some action.
Until they give incentive to lead laps! You are basically setting for 4 hours to watch the 30 minutes of action at the end of a race!
Paying points or money to lead laps would be a better solution for action!
That's why nacar use to give a 5 point bonus for leading the race at half time back in the 90's.. Good point Charles...
The restarts are nothing but a gimmick. What's wrong with NA$CAR won't be cured by this grasping at easy fix straws. Dream on Brian!
The double file restart (I refuse to even say the rest) has accomplished two things that I have thought were necessary for a long time. they have removed the lapped cars from the front of the pack and the wave around rule has helped address the problem of cars being caught a lap down due to green flag pit stops. As far as making the races more exciting, the fact is that NASCAR instituted the rule right before two of the biggest "snoozers" of the season and, let's face it, it is virtually impossible the make these races exciting. The double file restarts will make the racing better in late-race caution situations and provide some incentive for drivers to race a little harder in the early stages of races.
It's a good rule but it will take time to realize it's value. I sincerely hope that NASCAR doesn't judge it's effectivness based on these first two races.
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