Daytona 500

[Shane]

WOW! I don't think I've seen a race go quite like that. Potholes in the tracks delaying it twice (my guess is the cold weather Florida had for most of the winter) only added to the drama as cars ran three and sometimes four wide on the track. Then, you had two crashes near the end of the race that caused two consecutive Green-White-Checkered attempts, only for Jamie McMurray to take home the checkered flag! It's his fourth win overall and his first Daytona 500 win. It was a VERY exciting thing to watch!

Anyone else see it?

 

[Obsessed]

Ok, stupid question from someone who knows nothing about auto racing: do the cars in NASCAR run on standard gasoline or something else?

 

[richmondesi]

I missed the ending, but everything I was able to see (except the delays to fix the track ) was really great.

Wish I could have seen the end of the race

 

[Shane]

Ok, stupid question from someone who knows nothing about auto racing: do the cars in NASCAR run on standard gasoline or something else?

They run gasoline, but it's very high octane for better performance, something like 110 octane.

Also, I believe the stock cars still run leaded gasoline.

 

[garyg]

Way long time ago I raced scca , today watched Daytona, I must be getting old, the sport has beeen corrupted by the media types, as like the rest of the world.

Where will those sorry folks sit, when no one cares?

 

[richmondesi]

Fortunately for NASCAR, it seems it will be a long long time before we reach the "no one caring" stage

 

[Shane]

Fortunately for NASCAR, it seems it will be a long long time before we reach the "no one caring" stage

+1 Honestly? Can we keep overly-weighted social commentary to a minimum? It's a race, and a fantastic one at that.

 

[airplanedoc]

Ok, stupid question from someone who knows nothing about auto racing: do the cars in NASCAR run on standard gasoline or something else?

I believe it is similar to the 110 Low lead gas used in airplanes. Which BTW has about 10X the amount of lead that leaded auto gas used to have. The Tetre Ethyl Lead is used as a antiknock additive (antidetonation) for high compression engines.

 

[castlecraver]

Loved it! Definitely a McMurray fan -- great to see him get to VL even if it was a crazy race. What a legendary race it would have been if Jr had been able to get all the way up there -- he plowed up from like 10th place in about a lap. He had one helluva run.

 

[Mr_Amazing]

I gave it a look between commercials. I'm not big on auto racing. To the casual observer, it's just cars going around an oval track for 3+ hours. It's more about the driver/team, than it is about the vehicle. I much prefer F1 in a pure form (meaning watching a race for what it is, not who ticked someone else off, and without the politiciing). Honestly, I don't see what the attraction to NASCAR is. I think the fan base would be bigger if there were camaros out there with challengers and mustangs instead of the bland look every car has. It's too bad that there were crashes at the end of the race.

 

[airplanedoc]

I gave it a look between commercials. I'm not big on auto racing. To the casual observer, it's just cars going around an oval track for 3+ hours. It's more about the driver/team, than it is about the vehicle. I much prefer F1 in a pure form (meaning watching a race for what it is, not who ticked someone else off, and without the politiciing). Honestly, I don't see what the attraction to NASCAR is. I think the fan base would be bigger if there were camaros out there with challengers and mustangs instead of the bland look every car has. It's too bad that there were crashes at the end of the race.

+1

I agree, I will watch flip over to a race, but quickly loose interest watching the same thing for 3+ hours. I do enjoy occasionally attending a live event, but it is more for the people watching, and excitement of being there with all the people than the race for me.

 

[laconic1]

It was unfortunate they had the delays for the potholes. I just saw an article where the president of the track said it would be about $20 million to repave the track, and that they don't want to repave it unless it really needs it. Considering how bumpy the track is, that it has been 32 years since it has been repaved, and that when the asphalt gets into a condition where potholes can form it usually doesn't get better I would say it is probably due for repaving. The race was pretty decent, the wrecks weren't that big today. Bummer for Allmendinger, he was running so good before he spun out.

 

[ouch]

It was unfortunate they had the delays for the potholes. I just saw an article where the president of the track said it would be about $20 million to repave the track, and that they don't want to repave it unless it really needs it.

NASCAR has become one of the richest sports. Somehow I can't picture the Montreal Canadians saying "We don't want to fix the Zamboni."

 

[Big_Fuzzy]

You strange Americans and oyour stranger past times.

That said I did happen to see the afore mentioned event highlights, and from what I could tell it looked quite exciting.

 

[bookamatches]

Great Race! Great Finish!

I’m glad McMurry won. Judging by his interview, in winner’s circle, he understands the magnitude of winning the Daytona 500.

Juan Pablo Montoya, on the other hand, has absolutely no idea of the significance in winning such a prestigious event (as evidenced by his comments during one of the red flags). Its time for him to return to his homeland. I will gladly buy him the one way ticket. What an AH.

 

[sfbobus]

It was one of the better 500's I have seen in years at least the part that involved on track activity. It seems to be time to pave the track I have mixed emotions about that the bumps add to the excitement however the failing surface is way too dangerous. It was great to see Mc Murray pull off that win and also Earnhardt come through the pack like his dad would have.

 

[Argonaut]

Great finish, but I thought that there is "No crying in NASCAR!". Or maybe that was another sport.

 

[canoesota]

Since 2008 NASCAR has used unleaded fuel. Currently they are using Sunoco 260 GTX 98 Octane Unleaded. See the Sunoco website.

http://www.sunocoinc.com/site/Consumer/RaceFuels/UnleadedFuels/

 

[Shane]

Since 2008 NASCAR has used unleaded fuel. Currently they are using Sunoco 260 GTX 98 Octane Unleaded. See the Sunoco website.

http://www.sunocoinc.com/site/Consumer/RaceFuels/UnleadedFuels/

Thanks for the info!

 

[troy1979]

Love nascar but all the races are to long, i watch the first 50 laps, then come back for the last 50.