Weight Controversy

[The Ruptured Duck]

Well apparently there is a controversy brewing in the IRL about Danica Patricks weight.  The weighs 109lb, whive the average driver weight is about 150-160lbs.  

My question to you is, do you think it really matters?

Does F-1 have driver weight regs?

[Craig.]

I do think its an issue in the IRL since they are traveling constantly at high speed, she gains in some cases 1 to 2mph advantage over the rest of the field. As to F1, the only rule is that a car and driver cant weight less than a certain weight combined, something like 600KG i believe. Which is why the whole BAR problem happend earlier in the season. I know the average F1 driver comes in at about 140 to 150lbs. few of them weigh much more.

The key thing right now, is that Patrick cant use the weight differance to her advantage. I still dont see the big deal about her, once again she almost took out Dan Wheldon last night when she got out of the throttle at the start which cost him 5 places. And then she was given pleanty of easy passing chances by Hornish towards the end that she just looked like she was scared to take.

[TSC.]

Not sure how much difference it makes with that sort of horsepower, but I used to race pro-karts & a stone in weight made a big difference over a 6hr endurance race.

So she may well have a bit of an advantage there, no different than an F1 car running a low fuel load I suppose.

Luckily I was always under the combined minimum, so i had to make up the difference with lead weights, but it always meant that I was as light as poss.

I always seem to miss the IRL these days, what channel is it on in the UK?

Cheers,

TSC.

[Craig.]

Sky sports. Usually sunday nights, sometimes live sometimes replay.

[TSC.]

Cool, cheers Craig.

TSC.

[The Ruptured Duck]

I do think its an issue in the IRL since they are traveling constantly at high speed, she gains in some cases 1 to 2mph advantage over the rest of the field. As to F1, the only rule is that a car and driver cant weight less than a certain weight combined, something like 600KG i believe. Which is why the whole BAR problem happend earlier in the season. I know the average F1 driver comes in at about 140 to 150lbs. few of them weigh much more.

The key thing right now, is that Patrick cant use the weight differance to her advantage. I still dont see the big deal about her, once again she almost took out Dan Wheldon last night when she got out of the throttle at the start which cost him 5 places. And then she was given pleanty of easy passing chances by Hornish towards the end that she just looked like she was scared to take.

She does seem intimidated by racing a pro-car.  The jum from 200hp to 700hp is obviously large.  Watch her on starts and restarts, she backs off, which is good for a rookie so she doesn't end up like AJ Foyt IV (a no talent daddies boy, who likes to drive 25mph slower than the rest of the field and crash alot)

[Craig.]

LOL true:)
The other guy who shouldn't be out there is Kite. He was cruising around the track in nashville, sounded like he was running in top gear, when he should have been at least a gear lower.

[The Ruptured Duck]

Wasn't it Jimmy Kite who caused Sam Hornish Jr's practice flight at the brickyard this year?

[Craig.]

I dont remember, but it wouldn't surprise me. It seems these days, if you can put together a couple of high paying sponsers and get that money to a team you can have a seat in the series. Doesnt matter if you can really drive or not.