Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Last night's All Starts/Ohio Speedweeks has some drama at the end of the race as T. Schaffer & D. Blaney both ran out of fuel.

I read All Stars series now requires a 30 gallon fuel tank (vs. the common 25 gallon). What does the WoO and ASCS run? I am in favor of the bigger fuel tank but it does cost the teams $1,000+ to change over. Does the extra 5 gallon really make a different in avoiding fuel stops?

Dean Jacobs was being interviewed on the front stretch at the end of the show last night and he said that he had a 33 gallon tank and would have had no problem finishing the race.

This brings up an interesting chance for discussion. I've heard people use the excuse in the past that the bigger tanks would make it harder to set the cars up ect. ect....Dean single handedly debunked that notion last night. He started 16th and finished 3rd. He had no problem with the bigger tank and extra fuel. Infact, for much of the race he was the best part of the show.

...

The track announcer mentioned several times that the drivers were told 60 minutes or 40 laps. My question is why did the all stars throw a red flag for fuel with 15 minutes remaining in the 60 minute time limit? Schaffer ran out then Blaney then the red flag for fuel. According to All Star rules (for this night anyhow) why didn't they just let everyone run out? are they making up the rules as they go?

this is starting to sound like usac making a red flag fuel/adjustment stop for the silver crown race at the indy fairgrounds.THIS is stupid !

Yeah, I was watching the guys up front, and then all of a sudden Mark Keegan and Dean Jacobs were 2nd and 3rd I should have kept my eye on them. Bryan Sebetto was looking strong for most of the night too. It was a shame he didn't get a good finish.

It doesn't matter if it's a 25, 28 or 50 gallon tank, If you don't fill it all the way up!

I agree though, they shouldn't have thrown the red for fuel if the 60 minute timer hadn't elapsed. And since they did throw it, they should have given the 83 and 2 cars the same opportunity that all the others got and got their spots back.

I say put your lap/time limit on and STICK TO IT. The teams will figure out what they need to make it the distance and adjust accordingly if needed.

So the 60 minute timer wasn't up...but what was the lap count? Seems there's 2 parts to that rule. Maybe the second part kicked in?

well if they were running a 40 lap race they must not of got to the 40 laps before they went red. what am i missing if i'm wrong? was it 40 total laps counting yellows before they were going to go red, or just 40 green flag laps? most places can go more than just 40 total laps before going red for fuel.

to indy and beyond!!

I don't know either. That's why I'm asking. But why would you have a lap limit that doesn't include yellows?

Driver meeting announcement was 40 laps or 60 minutes. (Meaning 40 green flag laps) And the time starts when the first car is fired if I'm not mistaken, at least that's what it has been in the past.

The 60 minute timer was not up, and there was roughly 8 laps to go. Nothing was ever mentioned about a lap count. There was also 2 red flags so I do not think they were anywhere near the lap count if there was one. I have no idea why they broke their own rule and threw the red flag for fuel.

Rain was coming. If they kept having guys run ot of fuel they may not have finished the race.

Looks 2 me like someone messed up rules are rules if they keep running the race the next time the guys will put more fuel in

NO MORE FUEL STOPS. Get the bigger tanks back.

Paul

Concur Paul.

30 or 33 gal tanks and no more red flags for fuel.

Jet the engines for less fuel as well and that should take care of it.

I'm all for bigger tanks and less fuel stops but this change should be done over the off-season to give the teams time to switch over. It shouldn't be something that's made up on the spot before a race.

A

As a racer for over 20 years, there is lot of problems with the rules we race with now. I know people do not like fuel stops, but that is a part of racing no matter what size tank you have.

The problem is no open reds. If they had 2 reds during the race, why would you not open it up so you did not have to worry later about a fuel stop. Closed reds do not save time, you still sit there for 10-20 mins. I have race with the Allstars and seen closed reds for 20 mins. and when you restart you have 5-8 cars lining up with flat tires which is a safety issue. The time limit is not a very good idea because you could run 10-20 lap differance on fuel, but until the racer have a say nothing will change.

So throw a red flag and waste another 10 minutes...not sure I follow your logic on this one

I agreePaul, let the drivers (as they should already know)know this is a 40 lap race, and if they choose not to fill the tanks.......they lose. I would hate to think I had room for more fuel and ran out before the race was over. It isn't rocket science.

Rim Rider

it is kind of hard to jet the engines for less fuel with out taking the chance of burning one down. you need to give those motors all the fuel they can take to cool them and fuel them.

to indy and beyond!!