NASCAR Tries to Emulate the F1 Model With Crucial Rule Change

NASCAR, it seems, has found one of those self-help books that have one of those self-help quotes that go like, “A little progress each day adds up to big results.” So far this season, there has been an incredible amount of progress, both in terms of technological development and the racing itself.

And now, adding one more pinch of ‘little progress’, NASCAR has decided to lift one of the most talked-about rules in its book.

The rule that didn’t allow teams to decide whether or not to use wet tires in wet conditions, the rule that mandated the weather accurate tires, is no longer a rule.

Journalist Bob Pockrass reported, “It is now up to teams when to use wet tires if NASCAR declares the track wet during road-course events. There will be no more “damp” declaration prior to race and no more mandate of rain tires.”

NASCAR coming closer to Formula 1 with this recent rule change

Lifting this rule could mean teams will now have one more thing to worry about in their race strategy.

In fact, this brings the sport closer to Formula 1 in that subject, which is in line with the bigger goal of the Next Gen car that aims to put driving ‘back in the driver’s hands.’

This is one more element that the driver and their teams have now freedom of that can directly impact their race result.

Just look at the F1 race in Sochi last season when Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton, respectively, both got their tire strategies wrong, and it ended up costing the former a race win.

A win that could’ve been the milestone first for the younger Briton and a season-changing win for the elder Briton that played a key part in his failed conquest of eight world championships.

Although there are several more examples of tire choices making or breaking a race and, in some cases, entire seasons, the point isn’t citing examples.

The point is that NASCAR is ‘opening up’ more and more, which would surely not only encourage teams to become more creative and tactical in their approach week after week but something that will directly add to the racing product and hence, the overall appeal of the sport.

“A little progress each day adds up to big results.”

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