Ademaro Imre
Caldari
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Posted - 2010.06.15 05:17:00 -
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Edited by: Ademaro Imre on 15/06/2010 05:21:28
The actual managers have little to say in how a team wins, except by putting personal together that form good "synergy" and obtaining sponsors. If by manager, you mean crew chield, the guy that is in "command" in the pit box, then he can be a major factor. The cars have alot of "play" in them and alot of adjustments that can be made, and all of these adjustments can also be dependent on what types of traclk they are at, and the current condition of the track, and even the weather. The race the previous day could have laid down rubber and made the track more slick, but a rainfall could wash some of that away. The tire manufacturer is usually changing the tires to some degree also. The crew chief is responsible for putting a good car on the field to practice with or make changes on the fly in those conditions. These guys have notebooks, that are are extremely valuable. Usually handwritten proprietary notes. Driver preference in what lines to race can effect the car adjustments. The crew chief is usually in charge of those adjustments and the driver provide feedback in practice, and during the race. As you know - there can be a great amount of adjustments on a car and a google search can find them. If the crew chief and the driver do not form a close relationship with how the car handles, then the team fails. A driver can say his car is loose, but that can mean alot of things. Crew chielfs can also make decisions like short pitting during longer green flag runs, be the final call on either a 2 or 4 tire stops (two tires is a faster change for track position, but lose benefits of 4 tires).
Oval track racing is great for spectators. I usually got to 2-4 races a year, and I can be in the upper bleachers at Dover or Richmond, and see the entire track for the entire race (not all ovals are like this, but the great majority are). Even though its an oval, every corner is different, just through weatherization of the track and other factors. If you look back on the Charolotte race, entering turn one is different than turn three because of the front stretch dog leg. If you watch the Pocono race, no corner is the same. TV coverage of the races is terrible. The radio coverage is much better, they can really put life into a race if you are not watching it. I will often turn the TV volume off and put the radio on because I get better information because TV broadcasts (for any type of race) usually get mesmerized for whoever is in first place.
I would just do a search on Amazon for a book. In all seriousness, NASCAR for dummies would be a good start because it has an overview of the sport. Its dated from 2005, but for the most part, it still applies. The car styles have changed to what they call "Call of Tomorrow" last year. This was done to expand adjustments to a care, and make aerodynamics the same for every car from the start. If you are interested in a race to race "documentary" type of book, A Lttle Bit Sideways is a good book. It follows Kenny Wallace, a a driver of small notoriety between one race and another race. I am not sure if its still in print, but amazon shows copies available from sellers int he US.
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