My friend posits a theory to me. He says that basically, a driver like Alain Prost (a Formula 1 driver known for his cunning tactical mind and scientific approach to racing) would not do as well these days as do natural out-and-out drivers like Kimi Raikonnen.
His reasoning goes that because most of the strategy and science is calculated and worked-out by the pit-crew and computer technology is so far advanced, it’s better to have a “naturally skilled” driver like Kimi (or say JP Montoya) who can just drive the car when it has a good set-up. The driver no longer has to really do any of the thinking; he simply has to drive the car.
Although I do not wish to agree with this, when I look at the F1 racing scene I must say that he has a point. How many really tactically astute drivers are there on the F1 racing scene? For that matter, looking around the rest of the motor racing world, how many drivers are like a miniture Alain Prost or Niki Lauda (not counting any type of Rally driving here because I don’t really watch the stuff - but you’re free to comment)?
As the rules have changed, you don’t have to worry as much about tyre conservation and stuff like that these days… it’s more about driving on the ragged edge - something that only really naturally talented drivers can do. Hence it relegates guys like Prost to being has-beens, or dinosaurs. He certainly wasn’t the fastest driver during his time, but for me to watch him was always fascinating. His style was stealthy - you didn’t really notice him so much until the latter stages of the race.
What about the rest of you? What do you think? Is it all about swishing guts and glory? Does the strategic driver, the thinking driver, not have a place for himself in the world of motor racing?
Say it ain’t so, Joe (or whatever your name happens to be)
(Note: Like all my racing posts, your opinions are not confined to F1 racing. All types of racing are open to debate)
You make some very good points, but you could also argue the flipside. In this day and age of driver aids, the playing field is somewhat leveled and the better tactics could give a driver the edge. But then raw driving skill cannot be discounted, either.
In F1, I have noticed that you don’t see much of the style of driving that used to be commonplace, like Gilles V. or Alesi who would fling the car all over. Made pretty exciting viewing.
Now, rally is where the tactics really seem to take center stage. Tire choices, course notes, the way it is timed all seem to favor the more experianced guys. I don’t know too much about it, however, so I could be wrong, but that how it seems when I watch it. Whether the driver has total input or it is a team thing I don’t really know, but you would think the driver would make the final call on tire choice and setup.
Get into watching WRC if you can. Most exciting form of car racing I can think of.
How is Rap like Porn? Both are better with the sound turned off.
I don’t think this is true in NASCAR. For one thing, the cars are constantly changing with temperature changes and as the the track develops a “groove” or not so the crew must make changes as the race wears on. One of the things that separates good drivers from bad is that they are able to tell “what the car is doing” and relay that information back. This is also important in practice and testing, obviously. Pit strategy (when to pit, what to change) has always been a crew/car chief call in 95% of the circumstances because a driver can’t be bothered with doing the fuel mileage calculations.
I think the conscious decision to avoid upgrading the technology (they still use Holley carbs, for crying out loud) and keep the cars heavy keeps driver input paramount. When you’ve got a damn airplane with 4 wheels and kick ass technology*, you’re bound to max it out where the only variable is the human in the cockpit.
Plus, pointy cars just suck
*I know jack shit about F1, IRL, pointy cars.
Anybody watch Australian Supercars? (I think thats what it is called)
The few races I’ve watched, there doesn’t seem to be any strategy on the part of the driver! Its practacly a demolition derby at high speed. Every corner there seems to be a pile-up. Its like they don’t brake and use the other cars to bounce off of! Its freakin’ wild, man!
I watched the leader of one of these races take himself out of the race while lapping a backmarker!! Stupidest move I’ve ever seen in motor racing (with the possible exception of last-lap antics in 125 motorcycle GP racing). The guy comes up behind the lapper and just T-Bones him in the corner, but he came out the worse and ended up in the tirewall, done for the day. He had the victory pretty much wrapped up at that point! Unbelievable!
I would think that a “thinking driver” might do well in that series, if he could manage to avoid the carnage!
There is a lot of thinking and strategy in NASCAR, especially since the cars are so equal, and they don’t have unlimited budgets for research and such, like in IRL and F1 (I think that’s true…)
Anyways, even with all the startegy, it still seems to be the several guys who “get up on the wheel” that win most weeks. Hard-chargers who aren’t afraid to bump someone, or take chances. Guys like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick, Robby Gordon, others, single-minded in their desire to get to the front. Guys with an attitude. I think that is the most important thing.
